Eat, Pray, Love: What's Your Word?

By drodriguez Sep 14, 2008

109

New York Times Bestseller Eat Pray Love, has elicited its readers to tell whomever they can, be it stranger or friend, that they “must read this book.” Divided into three parts, each verb in the title corresponds to a country, each of which serendipitously, begins with the letter “I”. And since this is a personal journey for its author Elizabeth Gilbert, this is not so much a coincidence as an affirmation that she’s doing exactly what she needs to be doing.

Part One, Italy is the land where Gilbert perfects her conversational Italian and all the while, Eats. She consumes her food with a passion, seeks out the best each city and region has to offer, her exchange with residents is equally passionate, if not about food, then about living and loving and being.

In part one, her Italian friend invokes the theory that, “every city has a single word that defines it, that identifies most people who live there. If you could read people’s thoughts as they were passing? you would discover that most of them are thinking the same thought. Whatever that majority thought might be ? that is the word of the city.”

Apparently Rome’s word is SEX. (And since the Vatican is technically not part of Rome, its own word is POWER.) New York: ACHIEVE. Los Angeles: SUCCEED. The conversation between the two takes the theory down to smaller entities, ultimately to Gilbert’s. What is Elizabeth Gilbert’s word? At that point, after her year-long journey, she doesn’t know, and as she concedes on this page, that is truly the reason for her traverse around the world. (Ultimately she does find her word, and it’s a pretty good one.)

What is your word? Have you found it? What would you need to do to find it?

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Comments

by mvemother | CROCKER, MO

Sep 01, 2009

My word is Breathe. I have to add, the hype surrounding this book has been more enjoyable for me than actually reading it was. I'm hoping with the movie coming out I'll find what I was missing in it and have to give it another go.

by the7thh0rcrux | Mount Carmel, PA

Aug 21, 2009

My word would be PASSIONATE. Everything I strive for and believe in I am greatly passionate about.

by rockermom | decatur, IN

Jul 15, 2009

i think i would go with....insperational! i have had a really good friend tell me that i have really hellped her in so many ways. i have never judged her no matter what! i have believed in her when no else did. i push her to continue with her dream of modeling. she is a great friend and i lover her like a sister and hope i will always be their for her and want her to know that i will be! love u patrice! thank you for everything u have done for me!

by hellokitty10012 | WORTHINGTON, OH

Jul 09, 2009

Endure. Peace. Love. Joy.

by PollyGraham | N BRIDGTON, ME

Jul 05, 2009

Growth

by Kristilee | NEW ROCHELLE, NY

Apr 08, 2009

Striving is my word. It seems no matter where I am at in any part of my life I am always striving for more! Sometimes it can be a bit hectic

by frugaltxmama | Comanche, TX

Apr 02, 2009

I've been tempted to buy this book several times. I may just give in and do it! I think my word would be nurturing. Y'all have some great words!

by kissmecath | PERU, IN

Mar 30, 2009

Family.

by layneyspeaks | Carroll, IA

Mar 13, 2009

I am OPEN... open to new ideas, new friends and adventures to explore with my family.

by linda_answer | SAINT LOUIS, MO

Mar 11, 2009

My word is....activist I am an activist for causes and passions of mine: like wildlife, animals, Pro Life, etc.

by middlemchugh | NAZARETH, PA

Feb 05, 2009

Every woman should read this--single, married, widowed.....INSPIRATIONAL!

by flyawaywithme | Brighton, MI

Jan 23, 2009

Faith, Family, Friends and Food.

by ShabbyChic | Napa, CA

Jan 04, 2009

mine would be..... CARE!!! Because I believe so much could change if people really cared! No more apathy!

by Pinkcats46 | Stratford, CT

Dec 21, 2008

I did not care for this book. It was really tough to get into and as someone else said, who can really just travel the world like that? I have discovered a lot about myself these past few years and didn't need to travel to another country to do it! My word is self-motivated. I know what I want now, and I'm not afraid to make some sacrifices to get there. Realizing that now that my children are getting older, I can now do some things that I have always wanted to do. I am not locked into just one role in my life; I have the freedom to choose different things and that is ok. Really ok!

by LATeach | Wheat Ridge, CO

Dec 14, 2008

YES! (one word)