This morning I sat thinking that I forgotten something. Then suddenly I paled and realized that I forgot to post one of my articles here for Owning Pink, still brooding on the other! I immediately got taken over by all sorts of fears with my inner critic running rampant -- telling me how worthless I was for forgetting, and how I should be ashamed, and how I'm not really a writer. I just sat there and listened to that voice, just listening, not feeling. Then I smiled.

This weekend I saw the much-anticipated movie based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s best selling book, Eat, Pray, Love. The story is based on Gilbert’s own Pleap of all Pleaps (Pink leap of faith) -- for a year following her divorce she lived first in Italy, then India, and finally in Bali. Her goal was to find herself and learn to live again.

Like many who have read her book, I envied Gilbert for the courage to take this journey -- not just to these foreign countries, but to the foreign land of giving up control and giving into universal love. I loved the book and was eagerly anticipating the film version.

Every now and then I will share some of my life experiences when a bright spot has emerged and helped me through a very difficult time -- because no matter what our situation may be, there is always a sliver of gratitude that can be found. I will admit that sometimes we have to dig really deep to find it, but it will always be there when we need it most.

Two weeks ago, Pinkie Pattie Lee wrote a beautiful letter to her younger self that inspired many of us to do the same. Kim Wenci wrote notes to each of her younger selves, from infancy to age 56, and today Leslee shares a letter to her 18-year-old self, just starting college... Enjoy these powerful reflections, and many thanks to Pattie for inspiring all of us!