(Eat + Pray + Love) x Krissie = Laugh + Hug + Smile

Last night I finally stopped long enough to watch much talked about movie Eat Pray Love, and true to the hype, it sure gave me some food for thought (almost-there pun unintended). For anyone unfamiliar with the storyline of Eat Pray Love (which is both a book and a movie) - here it is:

"Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) had everything a modern woman is supposed to dream of having - a husband, a house, a successful career - yet like so many others, she found herself lost, confused, and searching for what she really wanted in life. Embarking on a journey around the world that becomes a quest for self-discovery, she discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali."

So many people experience a feeling of disillusionment at some point in their lives. Most commonly known as a mid-life crisis, this sense of being lost can plague people at any age. I myself had a 'mid-life crisis' at the ripe old age of 26 (ie. the start of this year) - I had lost my way and I couldn't see a path out of it. Like Julia's character Liz noted, I used to have this appetite for my life and it was just gone. I was just going through the motions. So I too, embarked on a journey of self-discovery.

"I had actively participated in every moment of the creation of this life. So why didn't I see myself in any of it?" (Eat Pray Love)

Julia Roberts' character may have found that her path to enlightenment and fulfillment was to Eat, Pray, Love. For me it was a case of getting back to the basics that make me truly happy - I reconnected with the most powerful forces in my life - smiling, hugs and laughter.

During my journey in the U.S.A. this year, I immersed myself in what I now refer to as the Trifecta of Happiness. I surrounded myself with people who made me laugh. I hugged my way around the country. I went out of my way to make other people smile. Whether it be posting about my epic adventures on a cross-country bus trip to amuse my friends back home, or pulling over on the side of the road to hug a statue, or taking photos of signs with slightly dirty connotations to make people giggle, or flooding people with technology love, or just flashing a winning smile to a stranger - I reconnected with my goal in life... to make the whole world smile.

For me, the recipe to get back into my groove was simple. Eat Pray Love was one woman's journey to happiness. For me the equation was a little different:

(Eat + Pray + Love) x Krissie = Laugh + Hug + Smile

I encourage you to take a moment and ask yourself, what is your version of Eat Pray Love? What is your Trifecta for Happiness? And if you aren't living and breathing that trifecta every day, when are you going to start?

(Eat + Pray + Love) x <You> = ______ + ______ + _______