Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Your Word

My friend, Melissa, who has often proven to be quite a genius, recommended a book to me. It is called "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. Now, I'm nearly through the "Eat" part of the book, and am enjoying it. The author is describing a year out of her life where she learns to focus first on pleasure, then on spirituality, then on how to live a life combining the two ideas.

The author occasionally hits on ideas and concepts that makes me put the book down, stare off into space and say, "huh". (Ok, the author is better versed than I).

Last night, while sitting next to D on the couch I had one of those "huh" moments. Here's the question: What is your word? According to the author's friend in Rome, every city, every home, and every person has one word that can sum up the aura of that entity. In the book, it is determined that Rome's word is "SEX", New York's word is "ACHIEVE", etc.., etc., The author is struggling to choose her word, but thinks "SEEK" might come closest.

I haven't fully narrowed down my word yet. The first one that came to my mind was "PASSION". Now, come on folks, passion isn't *all* about sex. For me, I have never been able to do things part-way. If I'm going to sign up for a class, I have to sign up, buy the books, and read the first 7 assignments before I even get there. If I'm going to have people over for dinner, I'm going to start thinking about the menu, plan the timing, hit the grocery store, get the food prepped, and drive everyone else crazy with questions about what they think. Hmm... maybe PASSION isn't the right word for me - maybe "JUMP" is - as I tend to jump into things with both feet - I'm not a test the water kinda gal (although I've tried to be...) "FAMILY" is huge with me, but I don't think I can claim that as my word either.

Hmm... the quest for the word has begun.

What's your word?

2 comments:

alienbody said...

Ohh, I loved that book...even me, the undecided who can't fit into a category person. I'm working on my word, but knowing me it will change by the week. This week it's STIPULATION. Meaning, I feel as if life has been very generous to me in the last 18 years and that it will soon impart stipulations that mean I won't be able to experience joy and happiness without a bit of angst and sorrow. Ugh....here comes the damn angst!

TheLongRoadHome said...

I'm on the first chapter of the book and I already want to move to Italy, learn Italian, and eat gelato for breakfast.