"Eat, Pray, Love"----Life...not necessarily in that order.

Yet another movie that has sparked some emotion in me. This movie took me on a beautifully emotional , enlightening and spiritual journey from New York to Bali, Italy, India, Rome, and Naples. It also made me appreciative of my own life choices-that I took the time to get to know and love myself before embarking on a “life Eternal” journey with anyone else.

Synopsis:

A forty-something year old Woman (Julia Roberts) realizes that after eight years of Marriage, and no children... she has lost herself in life’s day-to-day experiences. Although she is technically living the “American Dream” with the beautiful home, successful career and handsome Husband…she is internally unhappy. After devastating her Husband with a sudden divorce, she decides to travel the World to do what she had never done before…find herself.

I have said it before on my blog, and I will say it again to Women and Men alike: You can never truly love or be happy with someone else if you don’t know yourself. That was Liz’s (Julia Robert’s) problem…and she discovered it too late, therefore hurting the ones who truly cared about her in her discovery. I’m sure a lot of people (mostly Men, lol) will say she was just a crazy, selfish Woman who had it good and decided she just didn’t want it anymore. The reality is that, her character represents the millions of Women who float along in life doing what other people expect them to do…not what they really want to do. This has been so many Women’s story for centuries…get married, have children, take care of the Home, grow old. The new Millennium has brought about a big change in this cycle because more Women are choosing to take the time to get to know and love themselves…FIRST.

 I spent most of my Twenties on an emotional and sometimes spiritual journey of sorts. I went years without being in a relationship, and although it got lonely at times…I had plenty of opportunities to learn about myself. I learned about my likes, dislikes, flaws, and attributes. I was able to do some traveling with friends…not to the Countries in the movie, but I plan on doing that…with my Husband.  This movie lifted my spirits because it helped me to remember that I’ve already taken my journey of self-exploration. I won’t have to go through a “mid-life crisis” where I hurt my Husband, children and loved ones in the process. Marriage requires a lot of Faith, work, compromise and nurturing… I was able to make this choice confidently and wholeheartedly because I was finally ready. Unfortunately though…I can’t say the same for some of my friends and family. I grew up watching my Mom struggle with finding herself… and it was heartbreaking.  She now knows her self-worth and is married to a great guy. Some people leave this earth, without ever getting that chance. Of course the best time to take this journey is when you’re single, before kids…but it’s not always realistic because most teenagers don’t have this knowledge yet. I had a child while still in my teens, and I hurt his father when I broke up with him to embark on my journey…but it was a blessing in disguise. My Mom was very supportive and helped me with my first child so I was able to do some traveling and exploring. Because of this I am now able to be an “unselfish” Wife, Mother and Career Woman. I’m also on a new and wonderful path to becoming the “Virtuous Wife” that is spoken of so highly in the Bible.

 My advice to you: Life is too short to let so many years go by before you learn who you are…take the journey before it’s too late.

Actual post time- 7:30 pm pst.