Dear Universe,
“I’m making space for the unknown future to fill up my life with yet-to-come surprises.”
Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love
The other day I happened to catch the tail end of the movie Eat, Pray, Love. Though I read the book and have seen the movie before, I had forgotten about this one scene towards the end.
In the movie, Julia Roberts (playing author Elizabeth Gilbert) is riding on her bike. She’s thinking about this incredible, life-changing, soul-searching, a-ha moments-filled journey she’s been on and what needs to transpire before the credits come rolling in. Moments later, she approaches Javier Bardem, the man she has fallen in love with in Bali, but been too scared to admit it to up until this point, to tell him what she has finally realized.
I’ll paraphrase.
Her: Remember when you asked me what my word was?
(In the book this refers to an earlier moment in Italy where Elizabeth Gilbert tries to think of a word that could encapsulate her.)
Him: Yes.
Her: I thought of my word.
Dramatic pause, big Julia Roberts grin… realization she should just come out and say it
Her: It’s ‘attraversiamo.’ It means ‘let’s cross over.’
Javier Bardem teary-eyed, happy. Wondering if this means they can sail off together in the boat they are standing next to…
They take each other’s hands, fall into a movie-worthy embrace and sail off together in said boat. Tears all around, including mine.
This got me wondering one thing: What’s my word?
I realize the word probably changes depending on my age or what’s going on in my life at the time, but if I had to come up with a motto, one word that says it all right now, what would it be?
There’s gratitude, believe or faith. I try to have those each day. There’s strength, hope or grace. I’d like to think I do my best to strive for those too.
But, I can’t settle on just one word and I want to. I also have a feeling that as soon as I do, it will be time to change it, but that’s besides the point. I want a word. An Italian word would be nice. French works too—especially if when translated the word is actually a phrase. Because then that’s like getting bonus words. Some may call that cheating. I call it fair game since Elizabeth Gilbert did it.
Universe, send me a word. A word I can own as mine. One that says it all and helps me keep on moving forward.
Hmm, forward’s not so bad. Forward…. Forward….
Grazie Mille,
A
