Elizabeth Gilbert may have travelled all around the world just to learn how to eat, pray and love. However, I managed to learn how to eat, pray, love, read and write just by leaving my home country.
I entered Los Angeles with expectations, dreams and desires. However, along with learning how to battle my problems, I understood how to live my life. The secret behind being happy is learning to let go of all guilt and give in to your craving, once in a while. When I craved for anything unhealthy, I did not think twice. Stopping yourself from doing something you love will end in regret, always. Initially, I stopped myself from bingeing on unhealthy snacks but then the craving became worse leading me to eat twice as much. This made me feel guilty and thus regret my decision of stopping myself. Truly, I learned to eat for myself and live happily.
Coming from a religious family, praying was habitual and a part of life. I did not question why we needed to pray or why we needed to be spiritual. I went with the flow.
When I was in India, I was showered with so much love from friends, family, neighbors, animals and acquaintances that I did not value it.
After living in the United States I realized how important it is to pray and love. I observed that people had no time to pray. Busy with work and making money, they were so consumed with themselves that they were left with no time to pray. I immediately understood why it is so important to take time out to pray. Praying helps us to be calm, peaceful and relaxed, especially in this busy life of ours. Just like praying, loving also gives satisfaction and makes us happy. You don't have to take time out just to love someone. Just calling someone you care about, petting a dog or even greeting your neighbor will make you feel good. I learned to appreciate the importance of praying and loving.
When you start to appreciate life, you tend to want to show your appreciation in some form. I did that by reading and writing. I read books that were meant to pass time, books that helped me gain knowledge and books that helped me open my eyes and learn about life. Reading always made me want to write. The writer in me coaxed me to continue writing (I have been writing since I was 8), but this time for everyone to read, so as to make them want to write. Now that I write/blog, I have started reading other blogs and contacting bloggers. I have learned so much by reading other's articles which has helped me improve my writing skills as well.
Sometimes, leaving will help you learn more than you imagined!
I entered Los Angeles with expectations, dreams and desires. However, along with learning how to battle my problems, I understood how to live my life. The secret behind being happy is learning to let go of all guilt and give in to your craving, once in a while. When I craved for anything unhealthy, I did not think twice. Stopping yourself from doing something you love will end in regret, always. Initially, I stopped myself from bingeing on unhealthy snacks but then the craving became worse leading me to eat twice as much. This made me feel guilty and thus regret my decision of stopping myself. Truly, I learned to eat for myself and live happily.
Coming from a religious family, praying was habitual and a part of life. I did not question why we needed to pray or why we needed to be spiritual. I went with the flow.
When I was in India, I was showered with so much love from friends, family, neighbors, animals and acquaintances that I did not value it.
After living in the United States I realized how important it is to pray and love. I observed that people had no time to pray. Busy with work and making money, they were so consumed with themselves that they were left with no time to pray. I immediately understood why it is so important to take time out to pray. Praying helps us to be calm, peaceful and relaxed, especially in this busy life of ours. Just like praying, loving also gives satisfaction and makes us happy. You don't have to take time out just to love someone. Just calling someone you care about, petting a dog or even greeting your neighbor will make you feel good. I learned to appreciate the importance of praying and loving.
When you start to appreciate life, you tend to want to show your appreciation in some form. I did that by reading and writing. I read books that were meant to pass time, books that helped me gain knowledge and books that helped me open my eyes and learn about life. Reading always made me want to write. The writer in me coaxed me to continue writing (I have been writing since I was 8), but this time for everyone to read, so as to make them want to write. Now that I write/blog, I have started reading other blogs and contacting bloggers. I have learned so much by reading other's articles which has helped me improve my writing skills as well.
Sometimes, leaving will help you learn more than you imagined!
"The only thing more unthinkable than leaving was staying; the only thing more impossible than staying was leaving."
- Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love
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