Eat Pray Love

Last year I read the book Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.  Not surprising that this book would appeal to me given my love of travel and self-discovery. Last month I got called out at World Market 'living the eat pray love' lifestyle.   This was specifically because my hat was very similar to one in the posters in the store.  I'm okay with that.  On Friday night we had girls night at the Movie Tavern here in Aurora.  I'd never been before, but it seemed that fruity drinks and snacks would be a good combination with the movie.  The three countries featured in the book are Italy, India and Indonesia.  All places that I've never been, but would like to go.   The food.  The color.  The adventure. 

If I was going to spend a year in three different countries, where would I go?  Asia holds a lot of appeal.  I would go back to Thailand in a heartbeat and spend more time in the north.  India also is on my radar screen, but not so much for the religious reasons featured in the book.  And Bali, like in the book?  Fantastic.  Spain would have the added bonus of letting me improve my Spanish, a colorful country with easy access to other parts of Europe.  

One of the reader guide questions seems to relate to recent thoughts and conversations:  Gilbert writes that “the appreciation of pleasure can be the anchor of humanity,” making the argument that America is “an entertainment-seeking nation, not necessarily a pleasure-seeking one.” Is this a fair assessment?  

I tend to agree.  A lot of money is spent on things, including entertainment, but as many others have already found out, things don't necessarily give you pleasure or happiness.  Pleasure can be a good book, sitting in the sun, a rich dessert, meals with friends, coffee, a pretty view, a drink with a flower as a garnish, a pedicure, or playing with the dog.  Somehow I don't think a new car would give me the same satisfaction as drinking hot chocolate in New Zealand did.