Julia Child

I just love Julia Child. Sure, she was a woman of white privilege and acknowledging that is important. Yet, what makes her so amazing is that in 1949, her decision to go to the Cordon Bleu to learn how to cook French food changed all of our worlds. She was 37 years old. Clearly, she was a woman ahead of her time, challenging herself to do something for herself.

I have a picture of Julia swirling a large glass of red wine hung in our kitchen. Each meal, each morsel she put in her mouth needed to be enjoyed. Food seeped through her entire life. Europe treats food as one part of their culture that is essential to living. I love that and have attempted to do the same thing. If I had the opportunity to invite anyone I wanted, dead or alive, to a dinner party, Julia would be on top of my list.

The change our lives took with COVID has forced many of us to reflect on our lives. Is this what I want to be doing? Is this making me happy? What do I do now after being out of the workforce but wanting to wake up daily with a purpose? Do I need a good project? Do I want to travel more or less? How do I want to eat? I could go on and on with questions, but many people I have talked to over the past few months seem to be trying to figure out their identities with a different head on their shoulders.

At 37 in 1949 could easily be thought of like 50 in 2021. Different times but the world should always be our oyster. Julia Child brought French cuisine to the American public as a teacher, an author, and television personality when businesswomen were not received with open arms in the public eye. Unfortunately, we are still working on that.

There is something about channeling Julia Child as our guiding light that feels really good. As many of us find ourselves treading water, ask yourself, what would Julia Child do? The options are endless.