It wasn't until having a conversation with my mother on the way home from "Eat, Pray, Love" that I realized something about myself and practically every human on earth. It was interesting how I came upon this thought, that so perfectly answers all of my questions of life, love, and meaning; I first had to disagree with my mother.

I will not try not to give this movie away but if you are thinking about going to see it, and getting something...anything... out of it stop right now. Read this later; I can't promise there will be no spoiler, however as Hollywood does it I bet you could figure out the story line.
Perspective takes precedence, which is exactly how I got to disagreeing with my mother about the meaning of this movie, and of the woman, the author, who this movie is based upon. I heard the word "disposable". Apparently our culture has become this way somehow. "Selfish" also popped up. Hm... this got me thinking. I decided it was probably not best to argue with a woman who has been through quite a bit in the name of love. I, fortunately, have been able to see at least 22 years of it and am thankfully able to apply her lessons to my life. It confuses me, as I have been able to watch what she has gone through (although did not have to actually go through the emotional roller coaster) that we are so different on our perspectives of love... and loss.
After feeling a bit angry that she did not see the whole point of this movie I began to listen. She told me that every movie seems the same; that these women go out to "find themselves" but always end up just finding a man. Boy, not even as a self-proclaimed feminist did I get that from the movie. Okay, sure, looking back I guess if you do take that perspective that's exactly what you see but I was looking at it a little differently. Forget the ending where everything is fine and dandy, look at the journey, look at the independence, look at her struggle for balance, and look at her willingness to let go and love.
The movie identified the bind modern day women are in; to be either independent or be loved. Well, why not both? I don't think the point of this movie was to show everyone that she needed to find a man in order to find herself; quite the contrary. I think the whole point of it was allowing herself to accept a partner and realize that that doesn't mean she is going to lose herself. Think about all the married men and women out there! Sure, you have to compromise on certain things when you are in a relationship, but we, as people in family relationships, friendship relationships, and work relationships have to compromise in order to get things done.



(Warning: spoiler)
The major challenge, the point of this film, is finding balance. She is either spending weeks with her lover or weeks on a regimen of meditation. It was hard for her to realize that she could do both and that balance doesn't mean you have to be perfect every second of the day--we are human! Some times one side weighs just a bit more than the other. The key is to make sure things even out and that you can be yourself, whichever hat you are wearing at the time.
This brings me to my realization, that is actually helping me realize my purpose in this mighty world.,,


There are few things that we, as people, truly need. Food and shelter are one of the two big ones, but beyond that everything is pretty much want. Want is what drives us all. Saying it out loud it seems fairly obvious but it actually is complex. I have been struggling with my purpose in this world; trying to figure out what I am going to do to fill my time and finance my life... well, I just have to figure out what I want. Want is why I get up in the morning, want is why I have a bad attitude when something goes wrong, want is why I try hard for success. Now to say that emotions have no effect on this is incorrect; you're emotions can range in ways that cloud your decision making about want (i.e. sometimes at 5:30 I don't really want to have to go for a run, but ultimate want takes over). So that solves it. If you simply figure out what you want, what you want ultimately, what you want to be your balance you're pretty much set.
Ahh how simple does that sound? Far too simple (hehe). But at least it does give us an edge. We make decisions, we follow through or don't follow through with these wants. Whether they are professionally, romantically, or personally the things we do come from desire. So if you find what it is that creates that desire, that passion within you, you'll probably be pretty happy.
Disposable? I think not. Realistic, passionate, willingness to learn about oneself? Definitely.

Feel the passion.Use the passion.
~Stephanie

View Original Post at stephaniemp911.blogspot.com

• Filed Under:  
• Sports, SportsPLUS, Entertainment, Inspiration, Film