In my early 30s, I found myself floundering through life. I never pictured my life to be a certain way, but somehow I knew it shouldn’t be the way it was. I had divorced and was back to dating, which turned out to be fun at times, but annoying most of the time. I had a great marketing position at a great company, which was also fun at times. When I look back, I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was I wanted in life or in love.
What I did know was that I love books and one day I would write one—that, I always believed. On my lunch breaks, I would often browse the books at Barnes & Noble. There was one book that kept calling to me. For about six months, I picked it up and put it down—never cracking it open and never reading the book jacket. But then one day I decided to read the inside flap:
“By the time she turned thirty, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern, educated, ambitious American woman was supposed to want—a husband, a house in the country, a successful career. But instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she was consumed with panic, grief and confusion.”
![eat pray love](https://anniecathryn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/eat-pray-love.jpg)
OH MY GOD. My heart literally beat out of my chest. This was me! I devoured that book and blubbered through it. And, you know what? I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and I did exactly what Elizabeth did. I ate, I prayed, and I loved.
The wonderful perk about my job was that I had a lot of vacation. Plus, I banked most of my sick days to use someday. Well, someday turned out to be right then. So I used my 30-day sabbatical from work and I went on a safari to Africa. I booked a trip to Italy with my mother. And, I meditated for ten days straight at an ashram, unplugging from the rest of the world.
That time I took for myself made all the difference in my life. Shortly after my jaunts around the world, I resumed my normal routine and then I was laid off from my job—a job that I had stayed at for much too long. The universe finally said, “If you’re not going to take the leap, I’m going to push you to it.”
The next year I spent networking, freelancing, and gaining more communication skills. I also met the man I would marry! I had an amazing support system with friends and family. Even though my life wasn’t perfect (is it ever?) and I did fear failure, I eventually took the leap. I launched my own marketing/PR business. It’s been nine years and I’ve never looked back.
Now I found another life-changing book…stay tuned for that post.
Eat, Pray, Love found me when I needed it most. I will always cherish it. It is the first signed book I ever splurged on. Is there a book that changed your life or some other experience, event, or person that has? I’d love to hear about it.
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