A friend said I would write a book like “Eat, Pray, Love” by author Elizabeth Gilbert. Nah, I thought, brushing the idea aside. I have no desire to write a book. Now an Eat Pray Love blog … maybe.

I saw the movie before I read the book. In fact, I didn’t read the book until after I started turning my life upside down and someone asked me for probably the 20^th time if I’d read it.

Tired of saying no, I checked it out from the library. I carted it and several other suggested books around for weeks, barely opening any of them. Finally, with a due date looming, I buckled down to read Gilbert’s autobiographical book about her year-long journey, focusing on food, meditation and finding love when you’re not looking for it.

How ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ changed my life

It’s a fun read. And it changed my life, but not in the way you might think.

Because I’d already decided I wanted to live other places in the world and had started taking action to do just that, it didn’t inspire me. It did not make me want to replicate her journey or even divide up a year overseas in some other fashion. Reading her angst over ending relationships hit home, and I felt good that she was able to reach a happy point in her life by the end of her journey.

That’s still not life-changing, not for me, anyway.

“Eat, Pray, Love” gave me a few little takeaways, however, that had a big impact:

• A mentor who told her she couldn’t keep breaking down, because it would too easily become a habit.
• Advice from a friend that it’s OK to miss someone and love someone, but you have to let him go.
• Listening to the inner voice of reason and calm, who’s always there and always looking out for your best interests.

Yup, that’s it.

Those little things have made – and still make – a big difference in my life, particularly the last part. It’s not always easy to hear her voice over the din of my thoughts, worries, anxiety and busyness, but when I seek her out, she’s there. And she always gets what she wants.

It’s about connecting with people

How is an Eat Pray Love blog even a consideration for me then?

It’s because of the people – those 20 or so who asked me about the book, and many, many others – who connect with me and what I’m doing.

Inevitably, when I meet someone new, they want to know what I do, where I’m from, why I’m here. When they learn I’m on my way to Portugal — that I’ve quit my job, sold my house, got divorced, got rid of nearly everything I own – I get two reactions:

1. Some people are amazed and say, “I could never do that!” They might ask more questions to be polite or because they are genuinely curious, but they don’t understand it. Because they don’t believe they ever could do it, they can’t, nor can they see a way to possibly do it. And they probably think I’m crazy, but that’s OK.
2. Others are thrilled for me. “I am so happy for you. You go and do it,” they say. These folks tend to dig deeper or share more of their own lives. Maybe they’ve lived other places and want to go back. Maybe they always wanted to do this, but they never felt they had the chance or could take the chance. Usually, they have something on their life list that pulls them, too, but they aren’t doing it. Or maybe they’ve done something that took them out of their comfort zone, even if only on a smaller scale – divorce, starting a business, buying a home, switching careers, going back to school, starting a hobby. They congratulate me. Sometimes, they even give me a hug.

Eat Pray Love blog audience

It’s those people – the second group — I would write an Eat Pray Love blog for – this blog. These are the people who connect with me.

I’m taking this journey, and it’s a unique one, because I am unique. If those 20 people and the many, many others I’ve met who connect with what I’m doing can get something out of my writing, that’s tremendous. It doesn’t even have to be something big or life-changing. Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love” offered little insights that had a big impact for me.

My friend who told me I’d write a book probably didn’t realize the impact of her words at that time. While it’s not a book, it might be the next best thing: Bite-size blog posts to read whenever and wherever. No long chapters or lost spots. No overdue library fines or a finished book to find a home for on a shelf.

Just a quick way to connect and share in this journey we call life. Thanks for reading. Thank you for connecting. I’m grateful we’re on this journey together.