Motivation

Is there a song or a movie or a book that has motivated you to do something big or small?

Music has the ability to change my mood on a dime. Put on Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac or the Beatles and I am singing along, the breeze blowing in my hair. Movies are the same – I have to be careful now that I’m older because they can totally put me in a gleeful state or a heavy mood that is hard to shake.

And books? Well, you knew I was going to get to that. There have been many books that have been life-changing for me, but the one that motivated me to do something was Tara Westover’s Educated.

Have you read it?

Tara tells the story of what it was like to live in a home that didn’t believe in education. They followed a type of conservative church that didn’t believe in progress and medicine amongst other things. This lead to daily physical and emotional abuse for a young, Tara.

I cannot tell you how much I connected with Tara’s story and how motivated I am by her. It brings me to tears just talking about her memoir. If I could meet anyone it would be Tara Westover and Brene Brown – just putting that out there!

Thank you, Tara, for allowing us to see your world and benefit from your experience.

It was this book that gave me the confidence to write my own memoir, Starving. There was a point in her life where she felt that moving toward health was more important than being a part of the tapestry of her family. This is like breaking your own heart and it is not a choice that comes lightly.

For more, check out my memoir, Starving here.