Living

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 Truth is, personal satisfaction isn't always in a book By Sarri Gilman Herald Columnist I was walking outside of Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett heading towards the new parking lot. I was carrying the book "Eat, Pray, Love" under my arm. A complete stranger, a woman pushing a metal hospital cart, walked past me and said, "Hey, I read that 'Eat, Pray, Love' book. I sure as hell wish I could find myself." I stopped. Did I really just hear this woman admit that she felt lost in life? Did a complete stranger just speak her truth to me? I looked at her. She kept moving ahead pushing her cart and shouted out onto the street, "I wish someone gave me enough money so I could go to India and find myself like that author. I'm lost. I don't know who the hell I am." The door to the hospital opened, she went in with her cart and was gone. Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever just heard a random stranger shout into the universe something that you thought about for days and days? I can't shake this woman. I believe her. I read "Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across India, Italy and Indonesia" by Elizabeth Gilbert. Well, not all of it. I'm still reading it. It was one of those books I really wasn't interested in. I heard the little summary and thought, "I've already been there and back." It was a long time ago. I, too, had to find myself. I frankly didn't think the journey would be that interesting to read at this point because I don't feel lost, not even the tiniest bit confused. But my daughter gave the book as a gift last Mother's Day, and she's been drumming her fingers on the counter expectantly, wondering if I had read the gift yet. I didn't want to say I wasn't that interested, not to my daughter. So, I lined up my current reading list of books and placed it near the end of the pile. The book finally came up in my lineup and I started reading it again. The first third of the book has been fun, entertaining and smart as the author takes us along on a delicious trip through Italy. Next we go to an ashram in India where the structure and discipline of silent meditation can feel punishing. I am desperate to get out this ashram and am looking forward to the last part of the book, a trip to Indonesia. But not once as I read it did I get the impression that this delightful year of traveling was indeed the only way to find yourself, nor even the best way to find yourself. It was the best way for this particular author to unpack and discover herself. It was a journey uniquely suited to her inner life. There are different ways to this same place of finding yourself. My mother always said, "All roads lead to Rome." What she meant is that there are many paths that lead us to where we need to get to, not just one path. I whispered those words often to myself: There are many ways to the same place. I hope people read this book and realize that they may need to find themselves, but they don't need to travel the globe to find the way to their inner home. They need to listen to their inner cravings to create the life they truly want to live. Sarri Gilman is a freelance writer living on Whidbey Island and director of Leadership Snohomish County. Her column on living with meaning and purpose runs every other Tuesday in The Herald. She is a therapist, wife and mother, and has founded two nonprofit organizations to serve homeless children. You can e-mail her at features@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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