I’ve come to believe, as I’m sure you may too, that there are some books that choose you – that have a way of jumping off the bookshelf and into your lap, causing you to desire nothing else in your time with that book than to devour it.

The first time Eat, Pray, Love found me I didn’t quite have this reaction. It was two years ago, maybe three – but I remember reading the first few pages and feeling absolutely nothing. I couldn’t relate and there was no draw, no energy between me and those first few pages. I was a relatively new mother and the idea of a woman simply up and leaving her husband, her country, her friends, her comfort – was so beyond… well, me.

Introspection was not a friend I’d met yet. And I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve passed over that book on my trips to the bookshelf to find a new tale.

But a week or so ago – that book jumped off the shelf – tentatively at first – but finally landing deep in my heart. This story of this woman trying to find her very best self – off in the world, and all by herself. I’ve heard criticism that Elizabeth Gilbert, the author, was selfish, that by somehow having the guts to step off the cliffs of convention – that by not wanting to be a mother, or a wife – that she was selfish? To me she seems awfully brave.

I love her story. I’m in awe of it. Inspired by it, and yes, a little envious of it. Here’s the thing… we all get to live vicariously and love vicariously through her stories and experiences. That’s the wonder of a book, yes? Liz gets to take a journey that few of us realistically will ever get to take. Four months in Italy, four months in India and four months in Indonesia. I, personally am rather fond of my husband, and my children and my life. There is no question of the reality of this quest in the sense of the travel and the time.

But, there is certainly a reality of this quest in terms of the mission – for all of us. Permission to do things that some may deem selfish. Courage to tell the truth. The guts to look inside and find out who we really are and what happiness really feels like. Confidence. Wisdom.

I can honestly admit to you now, that when I started contemplating what has become Wise Workshops, I was not a person on any path of self discovery. Whoo Hooey Brouhaha is really what I thought of all that mumboey jumboey stuff. But, what I’ve learned (and am still learning every day) is that it’s wonderful what we’re doing – teaching women about money, and nutrition and finding the time to fit it all in. But, the very best part is working to teach all of us that there is a very best version of us that is pulling us toward our own truth. From the book:

“They say an oak tree is brought into creation by two forces at the same time. Obviously, there is the acorn from which it all begins, the seed which holds all the promise and potential, which grows into the tree. Everybody can see that. But only a few can recognize that there is another force operating here as well – the future tree itself, which wants so badly to exist that it pulls the acorn into being, drawing the seedling forth with longing out into the void, guiding the evolution from nothingness to maturity. In this respect… it is the oak tree that creates the very acorn from which it was born.”

So yes – I want a spiritual guru too. I want to revel in a bowl of pasta. I want to experience silence – in my head and in my ears. I want to be a vegetarian for a while and then I want to eat pork on a beach in Bali. I want to help the Wayan’s and the Tutti’s that come into my life. And I even want to be selfish – so that the beautiful, brave, strong, wise oak tree of my future can be the very best wife, mother, teacher, leader – the happiest and most fulfilled woman – I can be.

I hope you do too. If you’ve read the book and want to share leave comments below. If not read the book. I think you’re ready.

Tags: Happiness, Mindset, Relationships, Success