Since I’m still figuring out how to be single, I finally broke down and saw Eat, Pray, Love starring Julia Roberts as the traveling divorcee. The movie wasn’t bad and wasn’t all that great, but I don’t think that it’s going to serve as a roadmap for me as a single woman.  

The person I was watching it with assumed I would have a lot in common with the Julia Roberts character—I’m newly single, I like to travel, and I like to write. So, why aren’t I hopping on a plane in a Julia Roberts-style hat giving myself a chance to eat, to pray, and then to love?

Money isn’t the only reason.

I don’t think a trip around the world is necessary to eat, to pray, or to love. While I wouldn’t mind another trip at some point, I’m feeling like nesting and setting up shop for myself a little bit. I get to set the rules for myself for myself for the first time in a long time which is truthfully an amazing feeling. 

Eat.

I’m lucky in that I live in a city with lots of ethnic food so I should be able to take care of the eating part—maybe I’ll try my hand at cooking or maybe I’ll explore some new restaurants on my own.

Pray.

My spirituality or lack thereof is private. I don’t need to go to an ashram to pray or meditate with other lost souls. I can do that by myself if I get the urge. If I feel like not speaking for a while, I can just hang out by myself instead of paying money to go to a Silent Meditation Retreat. 

Love.

As far as the loving part goes, I’m really hoping that I don’t have to travel around the world to find someone to date. If I want a date, I’ll just go on Craig’s List and find one. I’m going to bet that I don’t think I need to go to Bali to get laid.

The travel in Eat, Pray, Love wasn’t like the traveling I’ve done--I think that her budget was quite a bit bigger than mine ever was.

A lot of traveling seems a lot more glamorous than it actually is; most of the hardcore travelers I know have funny stories about their travels and none of the travelers I know have actually reached englightment on any of their traveling quests.