And Then, You Wake Up

My "Eat, Pray, Love" In Two Weeks

Series

Part Twelve of Twelve

Lone Tree, Colorado

At my Bon Voyage party, before this once-in-a-lifetime journey began, my friends jokingly said this was like Elizabeth Gilbert's book "Eat, Pray, Love," one of my favorite reads. So, I half-heartedly adopted that title for my promised blog for this vacation. Little did I know it would ring more accurately than I could have imagined.

To summarize the past two weeks, I will steal from this fantastic author and say:

Eat.

I have eaten well. I have tried new foods, drinks, and dining experiences. French, Italian, Polynesian. This trip kicked me out of my comfort zone, and the foods, wines, and other beverages I enjoyed were astounding.

I have always been one to play it safe with food, but I find that to be limiting now. The fact that the food and wine we enjoyed only enhanced the personal experience was a lesson learned. Food and the experience of it binds us in relationship. It is part of what brings us together and seals our collective experiences.

And thanks to Dr. Carl, I have learned that the better the wine and the knowledge of it, the more profound and quality the experience. The shared meals and dining experiences created friendships and relationships that I believe will last many years.

Pray.

My daily mornings on my balcony brought me back to the God and the Universe I have been questioning. So much has happened to me these past two years. My faith has been tested, and my beliefs have been challenged. But, overlooking the beautiful waters of the South Pacific, I found my spirituality again.

God is everywhere in this world of ours. He is in the energy that surrounds us and our thoughts. He is in the majestic scenery I soaked in every day. I am thankful for all I am, for all I have, for the experience and the voice in my head that made me open up to the lessons this experience had to teach me. I find I can forgive, accept, and love despite it all. I am finally at peace again and am happy to know I have never been genuinely alone through all the tribulations and trials this Life has brought.

Love.

Ahhhh, yes. I loved. I have taken into my heart new friendships. Melanie, Milton, Carl, and Lindsay will be forever imprinted on my heart as part of a life experience that has tremendously impacted me. I learned to love strangers for their wisdom and insights into this Life. They taught me so much in such a short time.

I met a man who knows the color of my eyes, the hurts of my heart, and the promise of what's to come. I would be sad if I never saw my Captain again, but I will always be grateful for the time I shared with him and his effect on me. He made me feel beautiful, and whole, and at peace. And he looked deep inside and saw ME and loved me nonetheless.

As for the rest, that is between my Captain and me!