Eat, Pray, Love Book Club - End of Eat Discussion

Having finished Italy discuss what the first phase of the journey has been like. Something fun could be that in Chapter 33 while sitting in an outdoor café in Rome, Gilbert’s friend declares that every city—and every person—has a word. Rome’s is “sex,” the Vatican’s “power”; Gilbert declares New York’s to be “achieve,” but only later stumbles upon her own word, antevasin, Sanskrit for “one who lives at the border.” What is your word? Is it possible to choose a word that retains its truth for a lifetime?

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Well, I felt inspired.  I related so closely to Elizabeth's fears and insecurities, that I started remembering mine so wholly, I started crying, literally, for my losses.  I however, felt inspired to change my sadness.  Now, I know I can't move to Rome to change everything, the military doesn't exactly let that sort of thing happen.  But I know something's gotta give.  I can't run around with this deep depression clinging to my back, creating a super massive black hole in my center.  One that I am just realizing I have been caking over with cement in hopes it will go away. 

Now I apologize for my seriousness, but that is how this book is effecting me: seriously.  I feel very connected to this book, as I have spoken about in our previous discussions.  However, her words are not only a reminder of my pain, they have made me realize how beautiful life can be.  One of my favorite things about this book is how she describes things in such detail.  Such as this:

"There I approached a tiny vegetable stall with one Italian woman and her son selling a choice assortment of their produce - such as rich, almost algae-green leaves of spinach, tomatoes so red and bloody they looked like a cow's organs, and champagne-colored grapes with skins as tight as a showgirl's leotard."

You can see these things as clearly through her words as if you were standing at that same produce stall, picking out your own food. 

So now onto the "picking a word" part.  Hmph.  One word.  Just one?  Maybe this: curious.  That is the trait that sticks out the most to me, and powers most of my endeavors.  Not sure if it's as powerful as "achiever", but it works for me.  If I had to just pick one, that is.  I'm not sure if it'll last a lifetime, as experience sort of shuts down curiosity sometimes.  But I am pretty sure I've always been curious.  :)

Anyhow, I lovelovelovelove this book.  Can't wait to see what lies ahead in the Pray part.  Happy Reading!!

---Charlie