Lessons From "Julie & Julia"

“I could have a blog. I have thoughts.” - Julie, from the movie Julie & Julia.

A couple nights ago, after a good day of being productive, I had the house to myself for the night, so I made dinner and put on a movie I hadn't seen before. It was “Julie & Julia”. No one recommended it to me and I had never heard of it before. I found it on Netflix and decided to give it a shot.

That was a good decision.

It's not the greatest film ever created, but I really enjoyed it! I loved the ideas that were blended into it because I think those ideas are crucial for anyone who is on a path that's similar to mine. I won't spoil the movie, but I want to talk about the main concepts and how it also applies to my life.

First of all, it was a good reminder that mentors don't always have to be people you know personally. Obviously, this isn't always the ideal situation, but that doesn't mean you can't learn from the works that other people produce. I, personally, don't enjoy reading about history very much. I don't mind it, but I have a hard time seeing the value in studying it. Unless, it's an autobiography. That totally changes everything, because now instead of hearing about the past, it's almost as if you're experiencing a piece of it in your own life. It's as if you're getting to know that person, rather than just hear about them.

Finding good mentors is hard, but while you're searching, there's still opportunities to learn from the greatest chefs, artists, writers, etc. You just have to dedicate a lot of time to studying their work and be creative in how you find it. Put yourself in their shoes, and try to think the way they do.

The other thing that comes to mind is the power of learning out loud. That is a huge concept that is all over this film. Think about it: if Julia never talked about her excitement for cooking, she wouldn't have met the other ladies who were also passionate about cooking. If they weren't sharing their passion, they wouldn't have met, the cookbook wouldn't have been written, the TV show wouldn't have been created. I doubt Food Network wouldn't exist years later. Julie would've never had enough inspiration to start her own cooking journey, and she wouldn't have written a blog, and she wouldn't have published a book, and the movie wouldn't exist. 

That's a lot, but I'm sure it's just the tip of the iceberg. Talk about what you're learning, share your passions. 

Do. Stuff.

Don't just do it with hopes of becoming rich, popular, or changing the world. Do it because you want to.

“Don't you get it? I can't stop now, I just started! It's all I've got.” - Julie.

When you get an idea, don't hesitate just go for it! I hate when I hesitate, and I hate seeing my friends miss out on great opportunities because they weren't sure or because they were scared. The reason doesn't matter, because if you just go for it, the excuses will go away. Just. Do. Stuff. It's really simple, (not always easy), but definitely simple.