Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir of her year of self discovery is primed to be the feel good tale of the Autumn/Winter season. The book has already sold over ten million copies and the film adaptation, starring rom-com queen Julia Roberts, looks set to be a major hit with women worldwide, despite lackluster early reviews. As the skies darken early, and grey clouds and soggy drizzle become daily occurrences of the colder months, everyone is increasingly melancholy and despondent. My friends and I have already noted the decline in office morale and the onset of SAD as tans fade away and winter warmers are brought out from storage.
In the context of the grey British winter Gilbert’s tale is a shot of UV light, most concentrated and startlingly bright. If you’ve read the book it is easy to see how criticism of cheesiness and silly femininity will plague reviews of the film. After all, this is the story of a woman who (as well as searching for spiritual enlightenment) indulges in carefree carb eating (shock horror!), lusts after an Italian stallion, and falls in love with a romantic (and apparently incredibly attentive....) Brazilian. Despite the depression suffered after a messy divorce and a passionately destructive rebound relationship Gilbert does get her happy ending-and a heart warming, smile inducing almost cringe-worthily perfect one at that.
The romantic thread of the storyline is not, however, what interests or provokes me. The crux of the story’s moral is what grabs my attention. Gilbert’s journey of self discovery is as much physical as spiritual. The self awareness of worldly understanding she achieves gradually arises along the course of an astonishing twelve month travel expedition across Italy, India and Indonesia. Not only does Gilbert become totally immersed in the culture of three separate countries, but she has some of the most renowned and skillful spiritual leaders of these areas direct her studies. Surely if we were all able to spend three months in an ashram (or three months tasting the delights of Italian cuisine whilst learning a new language from a handsome native) we would all be relaxed, stress-free and at ease.
Instead, most of us are stuck in crowded Western cities, living hectic lives and juggling work, play, friends and family. We don't have the luxury of extended periods of solitude and self reflection.
However, I don't want you to get the impression that I believe Eat.Pray.Love to be endorsing a journey of spiritual discovery which can ONLY be found a million miles away from home. I have watched and read several interviews with the author in which she acknowledges that an experience such as hers is an extremely special and uncommon one. Irrespective of the fact that Gilbert's journey is essentially unachievable for most, due to restraints of time and/or money, the basic tenets of her spiritual or inner journey (yes, I know it sounds corny) are easily replicable.
You don't have to live abroad to learn a new language. You don't have to spend three months stuffing yourself with the best Italian cuisine to learn that when you stop counting calories and scrutinising nutritional values your food becomes more enjoyable. (I read an article recently which argued that when you stop regimenting your eating habits and start listening to yourself-eating when you are hungry, stopping when you are full, satisfying certain cravings-you are happier and healthier.)You don't have to move away from home to find new friends. You don't have to be in an isolated religious building to speak to God or find inner peace. You don't have to befriend an old wise man to feel needed or helpful. You most certainly do not have to holiday in a tropical paradise to meet a foreign man and/or fall in love.
At any place and at any time you are capable of bettering yourself and improving your quality of life.
I plan on taking classes to learn French so that when (yes, WHEN) I go to the couture shows in Paris later in life I can speak the language.
I plan on joining a local running/aerobics/dance club to get fit and meet new people.
I plan on finding a nearby library so that I can read the classics to my heart's content without breaking the bank buying books.
I plan on learning more about Buddhism because it seems like a nurturing, loving and beautiful religion.
I plan on hosting my first proper dinner party to entertain old friends and new.
What are you going to do?
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