For the past few days, a media storm has surrounded Steve Slater, the JetBlue flight attendant who made a bit of an extreme exit from an undesirable situation. And whether you might believe that he is a working-class hero or completely inappropriate, it is very clear that people who make decisions to just pick up and leave the world they are living in -- many times without much thought to the good, bad, and awful consequences of their actions -- fascinate us as humans. Perhaps it's because the idea of being carefree is so appealing, and we admire those who are bold enough to follow their passions, break all the rules, and just...be.

It's also one of the reasons why Elizabeth Gilbert's 2006 memoir, Eat Pray Love, quickly became a best-seller and an inspiration to the millions of women who have enjoyed reading it these past few years. After experiencing a paralyzing divorce, which was soon followed by another very messy romance, the author develops an overwhelming desire to find herself and ignite a passion for living that she once thought she had. This need drives her to leave the life she knew behind and take a chance on a year-long journey through Italy, India, and Indonesia in search of the things that would allow her to feel fulfilled -- food, spirituality, and love. Sure, the idea sounds like a dream (especially with a book deal to boot), but what Gilbert experiences certainly isn't all envy-worthy...

Already an accomplished writer with a National Book Award nomination under her belt, Gilbert rose to international fame (and acclaim) with the release of her memoir. And today, the film adaptation of her journey arrives in theaters with none other than Julia Roberts, the ultimate movie star, playing the author's role. Some might say that acting so carefree is never a wise decision...what about being responsible?

I'd say things have worked out pretty well this time around...