I’ve been reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage. I fell in love with her after reading Eat Pray Love in late 2008. the latter changed my life!

It’s not like I didn’t think dreams could come true — it’s just after reading Elizabeth’s account of her spiral down, then back up, and all the good food and travel in between . . . well, you could say I had a new outlook.

Her story sold me: even when you don’t know what you’re doing or how to make it, following your inner voice somehow strikes a balance with the craziness around us. And it often works out for the best. I will say it again, to flourish is to be in our natural state.

Come on, aren’t you feeling a little esoteric this morning?

Committed is the much-anticipated follow-up to Eat Pray Love. this time, Elizabeth takes on the institution she fled at the beginning of her last memoir, now at a new place in life with a new future available to her. (i’m trying not to spoil it for you.) she weaves a compelling narrative on the history of marriage alongside her own journey and of course, i’m falling in love with her all over again. is it possible to have a best friend when the other person doesn’t know you?

I think that’s why i love blogging and reading blogs.

I love that people are willing to share — especially when they have something nice/interesting/thoughtful to say — pieces of their lives with a world of strangers. I like that people can use their platform to connect with a new community, share information, seek out the like-minded and sway those who may disagree. a person can be quite moved by what shows up on the internets.

Have you checked out Homemade Grits’ Lesley Graham? you should get in now, before she becomes all Martha Stewart and doesn’t have time for anybody! (It’s gonna happen, just watch.) She’s a piece of joy, and not just because she’s into MARC JACOBS GIVEAWAYS.

I really love her calm nature, her upbeat cadence and her little fat-cheeked girl.

Oh and it runs in the family, because hubby Sam is quite the crafter himself. He also posts charming letters his dad wrote home from the Army back in the 40s. You know I just get swept away by these folks. Good people. Creative people. Happy people. Los Grahams, you’re an inspiration to me!