A few weeks ago, I was one of the first lucky people to see the new Julia Roberts movie, Eat Pray Love, based on a book by the same title by one of my favorite authors Elizabeth Gilbert. This book will always hold a very special place in my heart as it was the inspiration for me to make some big changes in my life, so I made sure I was in the theater opening day.

Very early in this true story we meet Liz Gilbert, a 30 year old married woman who seemingly had the “good life” all wrapped up- successful writing career, loving husband, big house, great friends. One problem… she did not want any of it. Night after night Liz found herself in her bathroom saying to herself in the mirror, “I don’t want to have a child, I don’t want to be married.”

Have you ever read something and been taken aback because the words sounded like they were coming directly from your mouth? I remember reading these words a little more than three years ago and finally feeling like I was not crazy and alone in the world. At the time, I was in a very similar situation to Liz- great husband, good friends, on our way to starting a family and living the American Dream. But exactly like Liz, I knew if I continued down the road I had started on, within a few years I would have a child (or two) and be living in the suburbs just like my and my husband’s parents. And something inside me knew I didn’t want that life anymore than Liz did.

My body had been trying to tell me this for years by slowing breaking down before my eyes. At this point, I was taking 25 pills a day and could barely work 10 hours a week as an attorney. I was miserable, suicidal and had been searching for answers everywhere from Buddhism to getting high every night.

I really believed that I HAD to be married, have children and live in the suburbs. Oh sure, I saw there were people out there who were leading exciting, creative, adventurous lives, I just believed I wasn’t meant to be one of them. Even with all my years of high-priced education, I really did not believe I had any other options. Every time one of our friends would announce they were pregnant, my stomach would knot up and all I could think was, “Soon it will be my turn and then my life will really be over.”

So reading Eat Pry Love was like hopping on a life raft sent directly to me from God. I read those magic words about Liz Gilbert in her bathroom and secretly devoured the rest of my book like it was my best friend giving me a road map out of my hellish existence (I hid the book from my then-husband as if the title were “How to Kill Your Husband in His Sleep”, paranoid he would know my thoughts just by seeing the book cover). Someone had been where I was and had made a different choice. And her choices had led her on a fantastic journey to Italy, India, Bali and eventually to the life of her dreams.

Fast forward three-plus years and I am sitting in the movie theater alive with anticipation to see the film version of this incredible life-changing book. I have paid close attention to Liz Gilbert’s career ever since reading Eat Pray Love, using it as a beacon when I felt trapped in fear about making new choices in my life.

The movie was amazing. I marvel at how different my life is today than it was when I read the book and am so grateful. I am the last person to leave the theater just so I can see the closing credits and discover the name of the song playing while they run “Better Days” by Eddie Vedder, if you’re curious- it’s the bomb!). I rush home to read the reviews to relive the magic of the experience and am shocked to see they are less than favorable- in fect most of them are downright terrible!

Although I knew I should just stay in my happy place and ignore the reviews, I begin reading them as if I will be able to defend Liz like my sister defended me on the playground growing up. The basic consensus was that this was a story of a spoiled wealthy woman who had the luxury of going to “find herself” and was a 2+ hour infomercial on selfishness and materialism.

Thinking more about it, this response really didn’t surprise me. (WARNING- some serious over-generalizing about to begin!!!) Our culture has a love-hate relationship with money. We’re taught that it brings happiness, so we all want it. But none of us think we have enough, so we feel the need to blame someone for that. We don’t want to blame ourselves, so we point the finger at anyone with money and say, “He has way more than his fair share,” or “No one needs a house that big,” or “It’s not fair- she inherited millions and didn’t do a damn thing for it.”

I used to think like that. I used to resent anyone who had more money or happiness than I did while simultaneously being jealous and wanting what they had. However, I have come to believe we are ALL meant to live rich, abundant lives. I believe there is plenty of money for all of us. I believe the only person responsible for my financial bottom line is me. I believe outer wealth is a gauge of a person’s inward alignment. I believe when I am in the flow of life, money is attracted to me like a magnet. I believe I was put on out planet to thrive and experience all the amazing places, food, clothing, and experiences that are out there. I believe money is just another form of energy and when you give, you receive back ten-fold.

I also know any condemnation of another person’s money is the fastest way to keep my fortune away. So nowadays, whenever I see someone driving a luxury car, I bless them with more. When I see a woman wearing gorgeous jewelry, I congratulate her on being in the flow of life. When I see a huge house being built, I thank the owner for inspiring me to design my dream home.

And when I read movie reviews attacking a woman’s courageous leap from acceptance of her silent desperation to going for everything she wants in life, I smile knowing there is never a crowd on the leading edge:)