Today I spent a good part of my day with my friend Sara and her son, who is just the most delightful kid ever. We watched Eat,Pray,Love while the young one napped. I enjoyed parts of it but at the same time I was left with a sour taste in my mouth. I just couldn't get behind her, she just seemed so selfish and whiny to me and that made supporting her efforts difficult.
Now I am all for supporting the whole discovering yourself and finding inner peace,and all that blah blah blah, but I really was not left with a feeling that she really grew that much from start to finish. Maybe I would feel differently if I read the book, although I know all of one person who was ever able to even finish the book, so maybe not.
That all being said I find that self discovery movies end up being about selfish people. People who are so focused on what is happening inside themselves that the whole thing turns into a story about them. They want to have inner peace, a zest for life, an appreciation for the simple things and all in all they want to feel like they mean something. They spend so much time wanting to feel connected but they never allow them to connect with anyone outside themselves. Yet, everyone single person I know or have come in contact with who has what these people are searching for don't live for themselves, they live for people.
So maybe that is the key for a happy successful life, one rich and vibrant and full of people. Maybe we need to stop trying to fit in to all these little boxes and just be. Surround ourselves with people and live to make their lives better. Then maybe we will find what all these people in books and movies are trying to find, but we will find it without being self-absorbed and whiny. Because if we spend to much time looking inwards we feel disconnected so maybe next year we can all try a little more living outwardly.
That being said,all the places it was filmed were all quite lovely.
"As I grow to understand life less and less,I learn to love it more and more."
-Jules Renard
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4 comments:
I read the first few chapters and couldn't swallow it either! We did rent the movie ONLY because Julia Roberts was in it. I'm with ya honey!
"Yet, everyone single person I know or have come in contact with who has what these people are searching for don't live for themselves, they live for people."
So true!
I haven't seen or read this story, but I enjoyed reading your assessment. It's easy to lose sight of what is important (especially if you are selfish to begin with)and miss the signs life throws at you to help you adjust your perspective.
Love the post KHope. Miss you.
I love this! So well written and thought provoking. :) Admittedly I enjoyed the book, but I felt like the author's voice wasn't as selfish as perhaps the movie sounds?
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