This is interesting. I love the note in the comments about changing our relationship to our neuroses. Earlier this year I went on a mini solo trip, heavily influenced by the push of a solo-travel-obsessed friend, and close-to-hated it. I think after reading your piece I can fully stop judging myself for that. In a time of feeling lost and unrooted, all my heart wanted was to be in my home country, cooking, cleaning, walking, going inward. In essence, I was eating, praying, and loving in my own way at home.
So happy you found something that helped you here! 💗
And yes, traveling is not inherently a moral act!! People tout it as such (and of course it can be), but today it’s more often participation in a global imperialist system that turns foreign cultures into backdrops/teaching experiences for our own inner angst. Of course you can eat, pray, love at home 💗✨
IMO developing the mindset that you’re a tourist in your own life (and trying to see the people and places around you w the fresh eyes of a tourist) seems a much more useful exercise than…just booking a trip somewhere because it seems like something you should do!
Dude. Damn. Yes. This was the sort of read that leaves me unable to type as quickly as I'm thinking. I loved this. I relate.
So much so that I have an abandoned book proposal on experience consumption as death fear. And I have two drafted stories on both my inner restless urge in my rooted life, and Americans lacking a royal you because we're too individualistic, self-absorbed, etc.
You only live once (so run away to ignore the end by constantly seeking something new. Never sit still to sit with. Never move through the lessons, instead move move move. (You can tell I’ve been there (sometimes still!))) 😭
The Elizabeth Gilbert who currently hosts the Letters from Love Substack is a very different, may I say evolved, version of the Elizabeth Gilbert who published Eat, Pray, Love in 2006. I know it sounds like I'm defending her, I'm not. Maybe she also reads passages from her book and cringes, like she's reading an old diary. I really don't know, but I felt compelled to comment because I'm writing my own mini-memoir right now. I hope no one will read my book and assume, "oh, I need to do what Susan did." Oh, hell no. I want them to go inside and reach for their own answers, which is what Liz did/does, and you did/do, and I did/continue to try to do. Sometimes it's the catalyst of someone else's bravery and vulnerablity we need, not their answers.
So, I just want to go on the record--I love Elizabeth Gilbert!, just saying--in the same way I honor that you are finding your own unique answers in the ways that feel right for you. Unraveling the ego is tricky business. May you continue to traverse your own inner terrain and share your wisdom.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment (and for reading!) I’m reminded of this quote from Ram Dass (I can’t find it right now but maybe it will pop up later) saying something along the lines of “no matter how much inner work I’ve done, I’ve never gotten rid of a single one of my neuroses. I’ve just changed my relationship to them.” Feels relevant here
This is interesting. I love the note in the comments about changing our relationship to our neuroses. Earlier this year I went on a mini solo trip, heavily influenced by the push of a solo-travel-obsessed friend, and close-to-hated it. I think after reading your piece I can fully stop judging myself for that. In a time of feeling lost and unrooted, all my heart wanted was to be in my home country, cooking, cleaning, walking, going inward. In essence, I was eating, praying, and loving in my own way at home.
So happy you found something that helped you here! 💗
And yes, traveling is not inherently a moral act!! People tout it as such (and of course it can be), but today it’s more often participation in a global imperialist system that turns foreign cultures into backdrops/teaching experiences for our own inner angst. Of course you can eat, pray, love at home 💗✨
IMO developing the mindset that you’re a tourist in your own life (and trying to see the people and places around you w the fresh eyes of a tourist) seems a much more useful exercise than…just booking a trip somewhere because it seems like something you should do!
Dude. Damn. Yes. This was the sort of read that leaves me unable to type as quickly as I'm thinking. I loved this. I relate.
So much so that I have an abandoned book proposal on experience consumption as death fear. And I have two drafted stories on both my inner restless urge in my rooted life, and Americans lacking a royal you because we're too individualistic, self-absorbed, etc.
Omg i think we need to TALK because i loooove your work and it feels so bolstering in the world 😭💗
That book proposal sounds fantastic and like something the world needs. It’s crazy how “YOLO” became travel marketing…
I’d loooove a chat! Let’s?
You only live once (so run away to ignore the end by constantly seeking something new. Never sit still to sit with. Never move through the lessons, instead move move move. (You can tell I’ve been there (sometimes still!))) 😭
The Elizabeth Gilbert who currently hosts the Letters from Love Substack is a very different, may I say evolved, version of the Elizabeth Gilbert who published Eat, Pray, Love in 2006. I know it sounds like I'm defending her, I'm not. Maybe she also reads passages from her book and cringes, like she's reading an old diary. I really don't know, but I felt compelled to comment because I'm writing my own mini-memoir right now. I hope no one will read my book and assume, "oh, I need to do what Susan did." Oh, hell no. I want them to go inside and reach for their own answers, which is what Liz did/does, and you did/do, and I did/continue to try to do. Sometimes it's the catalyst of someone else's bravery and vulnerablity we need, not their answers.
So, I just want to go on the record--I love Elizabeth Gilbert!, just saying--in the same way I honor that you are finding your own unique answers in the ways that feel right for you. Unraveling the ego is tricky business. May you continue to traverse your own inner terrain and share your wisdom.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment (and for reading!) I’m reminded of this quote from Ram Dass (I can’t find it right now but maybe it will pop up later) saying something along the lines of “no matter how much inner work I’ve done, I’ve never gotten rid of a single one of my neuroses. I’ve just changed my relationship to them.” Feels relevant here