Wild Christmas

So, for Christmas day this year, we went and watched the movie Wild with Reese Witherspoon, inspired by Cheryl Strayed's memoir.  I read the book earlier this year and it was amazing.  It really touched me.  I felt like I could relate to it in away, even though I have yet to face the struggles that Cheryl had seen in her life.  I feel like if/when I do face anything similar, I would probably turn to wanderlust to heal as well.   I have not hiked such a trek in my life...yet.  It is definitely something that I would like to do one day, regardless of the circumstances.  Whether it be on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Appalachian Trail, or the grand daddy of all pilgrimages the Camino de Santiago in Spain.  To have hiked even a fraction of any of these trails would be amazing and gratifying on a level that nothing else could touch.  And to be brave enough to face one alone, as a woman, is something I hope to be strong enough to do one day (but I am also not apposed to having my husband or a good friend by my side either).

I actually have a friend who went on a vacation to France and surrounding areas of Europe for the past week or so.  She went alone and has been posting the most amazing stories and pictures to Facebook.  I feel like she is so brave, strong and inspiring.  She had faced a lot of personal anguish in the last few years of her own life.  A horrible divorce from an abusive husband.  Having to face being a single parent to two children.  One of whom, is so angry at her and everyone important in her life because he feels it is their fault that his parents divorced.  Not to mention her ex-husband continues to brain wash their own children against her.  And on top of it all, struggling to learn, all over again that it is ok for her to find happiness in her life.  I told her that her journey reminded me of my all time favorite book Eat, Pray, Love (which is also a movie).  Again, another memoir about a woman doing amazing things to find and heal herself.

Whether it be in books or from people I personally know, it is wonderful to be inspired by such amazing women.  It makes me feel like there is nothing I can't face in my own life.

Merry Christmas everyone.  Namaste.