Fair warning—this short post may seem like it has nothing to
do with writing, but it’ll work, I promise because everything for me really
comes back to being a writer. Here we go…
An interviewer once said to me, “I want to be you when I’m
60. You seem so confident. In this youth-obsessed culture, how did you get and maintain that confidence, and where can I
get some?”
My first answer was, of course, a snarky, “I’ve sure got you
fooled, don’t I?” But the truth is I’ve spent so much of my life feeling bad
about myself, mostly because I’m overweight. Honestly, this country’s fat hate
is so demoralizing and I’ve just never believed I had much value because I am
fat. Like the size of my ass has anything to do with how intelligent or kind or
fun am. But one day, when I was about 55 and really menopausal, I came across a
fabulous quote from the actress Camryn Manheim.
She said, “This is my body. I live in it,
I play in it. I can’t deny it anymore. This is my fat body. I’m standing at the
corner of Life and You Better Get Going. I stepped off the curb and I never
looked back.”
That just smacked me right between the eyes. It was
life-changing… I realized I’d wasted too many years hating myself and that if I
didn’t love me, why should anyone else? So, I just decided I had to stop. I
started looking for the sensual in everything, and I decided to stop being so
afraid. I stepped out in faith and did so many new things—traveling, learning
about wine, practicing my French, dressing to show off my curves instead of
hiding how round I am, and most of all, writing.
Ha! I told you I’d get there.
Well, sharing my writing has been grand and you know, even if I don’t sell a hundred books, I’m doing
something I love. I mean truly love, and if that’s not a confidence builder,
what is?
So talk to me…tell me how you
maintain your confidence in a world where romance authors frequently seem to be treated
like second-class writers?
Great quote and a great way of looking at things!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz! Bises, baby!
DeleteI love the quote. I admire you because you are a writer and have persevered through the writing process. So many think about it and never get going.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by, Carolyn--isn't it a great quote? It really resonated with me!
DeleteCongratulations on finding the real you and celebrating your uniqueness! Your post is life-affirming - thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ashantay! So glad you stopped by and found something worth keeping!
DeleteAwesome post!! Love the quote and the attitude.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margie! It's one of my favorites!
DeleteIt might have been a short post, but it was long on wisdom, Nan! If we don't like who we are deep inside, why would anyone else? We need to celebrate who we are, make the most of it, definitely! Loved it!
ReplyDelete