I've been reading the much-touted Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and have been inhaling every word as it's cast an incredible blanket of englightenment over me. (Thanks A. Cherie and Soums for encouraging the read.) Here are just a few reasons I adore this book so much ...
- The theory that every city in the world and each person can have a word that fully characterizes it (Rome's is "sex," The Vatican's is "power", NYC's is "achieve") ... I am feeling my word out for 2008 :o)
- Richard-from-Austin's explanation of what a soul mate really is (p. 149): "People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then they leave. And thank God for it."
- The idea that "we do spiritual ceremonies as human beings in order to create a safe resting place for our most complicated feelings of joy and trauma..."
- The plumber/poet from New Zealand's 10 Instructions for Freedom gift (p.184)
... and there's so much more. I'm not quite finished yet and it looks as if I've lived with it for ages - cover tattered from traveling with me to Switzerland this past week, several dozen tabs peeking out from their inspired must-reread lines, and boarding passes tucked in pages for discussion topics among friends. :o)
