• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Eat Pray Love – Watch it!

August 18, 2010 by Sharon K. Brothers Leave a Comment

At times of personal crisis the world seems to shrink until all you can see is your own pain and despair.

That’s where Liz Gilbert was when she decided to spend a year exploring the world – at least exploring Italy, India and Bali.  Her story – played beautifully by Julie Roberts in the newly released movie – feels at times narcissistic and shallow.

But her pain is all too evident as she works to forgive herself and find her way to emotional and spiritual balance.

As daughters, wives, mothers and friends most of us can identify with the pain that relationships can cause – pain that can consume our every waking moment.  We examine endlessly why the relationship isn’t working.  We tell ourselves that it is our own fault – if we weren’t so needy, so demanding, so selfish, the relationship would be fine.

Yesterday my 24 year old daughter received a phone call from her father.  Once again, he forgot her birthday.  Once again, her face radiated the pain of a relationship that has seen more than its share of frustration and unfulfilled expectations.  I listened as she tried her best to make her dad feel better:  “It’s OK, really dad.  Don’t feel bad.  It’s fine.”

After she hung up, we talked a bit about why we so often feel the need to let our men off the hook.  I shared with her what I’ve learned over the years.  It’s not our job to soothe their feelings of guilt.  They screwed up – they should feel bad.  When we let them off the hook – “It’s OK – don’t feel bad” – we simply give them permission to hurt us again – and again.

Liz Gilbert clearly needed to work her way through relationship issues that likely went much deeper than disappointment and hurt feelings.  She did that by giving herself permission to focus on her own personal growth – and only her growth – for a full year.

I don’t imagine I’ll ever have that luxury, and frankly hope never to have that need, but it’s a great adventure to travel along with her in the sights, sounds, and life lessons shared in Eat, Pray, Love. 

Read the book – see the movie.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Uncategorized

About Sharon K. Brothers

I'm a mom to three fabulous almost-adult daughters as well as one fully-adult step son. I'm a wife, a daughter and a God-mom to three little ones I adore, too. Oh, and I run my own company dedicated to training the next generation of people who will care for us and for our parents - a pretty big, important job. Sharon K. Brothers, MSW

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Search

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

Six Reasons to Have Six Kids

When people hear that I have six kids, the reaction is … [Read More...] about Six Reasons to Have Six Kids

Must Have

STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

April has arrived which means it’s time to pull out the food … [Read More...] about STEM-related Toys to Include in Your Child’s Easter Basket This Year 

Did you know?

signs of pregnancy

How Long Does It Take to Show Signs of Pregnancy?

how much weight should a baby gain

How Much Weight Should a Baby Gain?

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

How to Cook Beef Round Cubes in a Pan

How Soon After a C-Section Can I Get Pregnant Again?

how to find out your pregnancy due date

How to Find Out Your Pregnancy Due Date

Signs of Water Breaking in Pregnancy

Signs of Water Breaking in Pregnancy

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2023 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.