Atraversiamo!

Welcome to 2008 - or as I like to call it "The Year of Getting My Ass in Gear." And what better way to start off the new year than by reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I don't know that I will do the book justice with this write-up. It is absolutely one of my favorite books I have ever read. When I was just halfway thru the book, I knew I wanted to share it with so many different people. I decided to give it as a Christmas gift to my mother, my 2 sisters and my cousin, Jenny(/i). My sister, Natalie, ended up finishing it before I did! (I'M SECOND!)

Elizabeth Gilbert is one of those authors with whom I instantly connected. She is someone that you want to be friends with, someone you want to travel with, someone you want to have brunch with...a likeable person in every way. In the book, Gilbert writes about her journey of self-discovery to Italy, India and Indonesia. Each destination was meant to serve a specific purpose. In Italy, she sought pleasure (what better place!). In India, she was to be devoted to prayer. And in Indonesia/Bali, she sought balance. At the end of it all, we are given a message of hope, purpose and fulfillment.

I cannot tell you how many times this book brought me to tears. Not tears of sadness, something else. You know, the tears that come from the pit of your stomach because "yeah, that makes sense" or "elizabeth, you touched my heart." Down to the last word, this book is magnificent. I have become so fond of Ms. Gilbert that I am even planning to take a trip to attend one of her lectures (cross your fingers that I will get my book signed). Visit her website for more info on my new best friend.