As I mentioned in a previous post, my blog writing was recently re-ignited by a book I read called Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Ironically, just this past week Julie Roads, a woman whose blog I’ve been following over the last 18 months, wrote her own thoughts on the book. Actually, to be specific, she wrote about one section of the book. She and several of her friends divided the book up between them – one wrote about Eat, one about Pray, and one about Love. And for good measure, they added their own section – Drink. It just so happens that Julie wrote about Pray – the section of the book that frustrated me the most, but also got me thinking the most.
In this section of the book, the author goes to India where she spends 3 months at an ashram praying and meditating. 3 months in the middle of nowhere trying to find something bigger than yourself? I’m skeptical. It reminds of me of when I was in college and people would say they needed to “go find themselves.” If you haven’t figured out who you are, you’re unlikely to find it by walking away from your life. In the case of the author, it ultimately worked out for her. She made peace with her divorce, created balance in her life and eventually found a man. What more could you ask for?
For the average person though, can you really walk away from your life to “find” something and expect to hang on to that once you return to “normal”? That’s exactly what Julie’s post is about. She’s spent time in a place similar to the ashram the author visited but found she couldn’t hang on to that feeling once she returned to normal life. She has, however, found that connection in her writing. That’s really the point of her post. Everyone finds that connection, that peace, that feeling of something bigger than themselves in different places and different ways.
That’s part of what this exploration process is about for me. Trying out new things and new approaches to strike a better balance and find something to connect with beyond work and family. I love my family, but sometimes I need more than that. A hobby in a sense. Something to clear my head so when I’m at work and at home I can concentrate better on what’s right in front of me.
Anyone else ever feel that way?
Side note: I’m working on transitioning my blog to a self-hosted site so hang in there with me. I’m not sure exactly how this is going to work out. Well, let’s be honest, I’m really not sure what I’m doing but I intend to figure it out. 
Photo: Courtesy of kalandrakas, http://www.flickr.com/photos/eelssej_/508977152/
Tags: eat, love, meditation, pray
I really liked the book, but only when I got to the end of it. The prayer part, meh. It did come together for me. I always appreciate that. I hate it when you’ve invested time in a book and it doesn’t give you that pay off you want or in my case need. I am looking forward to the movie which will probably not be as good, but I’ll still go.
The idea of “finding yourself” is a bit baffling to me. We change so much over time it’s not always about the end result as much as the path we take to get there. I pretty much chalked people up finding themselves to those who want to avoid reality.
I’m looking forward to the movie too but I do agree it probably won’t be as good. At least it’s Julia Roberts so it can’t be too bad.
Thanks for taking the time to comment!