Eat Pray Love
I totally related to what Liz was going through during her divorce. I feel the same exact way. A few years ago, after being married for a couple of years, the question in my head came up. what about kids? maybe we should contemplate the idea. Not because I craved to be a mother, but because people and society were putting pressure on me. I also felt guilty about not wanting to have a kid. I felt selfish. I was just giving into that idea because I felt bad about not wanting what other women in my life wanted. To have babies. Now, I don’t feel guilty anymore, and I know 100% in my heart that I made the right decision. Motherhood is not really for me, and I’m glad that I realized that in time. My child is my music, my spouse is the world, my fans are my family, the love of my life is my dog Pechi.
The Italy part (Eat) I loved. I really like the attitude of indulgence. Man, that’s how I wanna live my life. The way she describes food makes you want to fly to that little town in Italy where the best pizza in the world is made, and eat 3 whole pies. I didn’t enjoy too much the history of the buildings and the Sicilian people. That bored me a bit. But I think she felt she needed to share that.
The second part (pray. India) was interesting to me because that’s something that I would never do. Go on a spiritual retreat. But, I loved reading about her spiritual awakening. I’ve always been detached emotionally, so I don’t really relate to that part where she was seeking emotional detachment. I was born that way. hehe!
The Indonesia chapter, I so relate to it. The part where she felt she had to help Wayan and her daughter. Liz collected the $18,000 from family and friends for Wayan (the healer) to buy a house. But Wayan wasn’t in a rush to concrete a purchase. Liz WAS in a rush because she needed to show the people who donated money what they helped to build. When She asked Felipe, “do you think she’s fucking with me?” and he said, “darling, of course she’s fucking with you. It’s the culture. They don’t know when the next person will come around to help them. They will take from you as much as they can get” I totally relate to that. Every time I go back to Colombia, I begin my trip being the normal generous person that I am. By the time I leave there, I’ve turned into the more cautious person that I should always be. As soon as they notice my generosity, people there always take advantage. I guess it’s the same culture as in Indonesia. hehe! Instead of appreciating the fact that I choose their services, they charge me twice as they would normally charge someone else. I wish it weren’t true, but that’s what’s happened to me the last 10 times that I’ve been back to Colombia.
Great book. Great stories. Rich writing. Inspirational. One day (not too far away) I will hopefully have the opportunity that Liz had. To be able to travel for a whole year, or at least for 6 months. My destinations will be slightly different, though. I'd like to travel to Italy, France, and Spain.
I can see myself reading this book at least 2 more times within the next decade.
