I recently took my daughter to see Julie & Julia.  I was seeing it a second time and was excited to share it with her because I think the messages in the movie are just great.  Julia Child’s story is so inspiring and offers many lessons for anyone who wants to dedicate their life to something meaningful and beautiful.   (For those of you who aren’t foodies, you may think I am exaggerating, but Julia’s dedication to and passion for French cooking will inspire even the most utilitarian of eaters!) 

I find her story inspiring because she found her calling later in life, worked hard to master her profession, and was inspired enough to pursue her love of cooking even when confronted with obstacles and naysayers.   It’s also a great story because rather than focusing on her heroic journey as a solo act, the movie, which is based on her memoir My Life in France, also shows how her husband Paul’s love and support were instrumental to her success.  I think these are messages that every young person would benefit from hearing. 

I’m often looking for the parallels between inspiring cultural icons and my work, and Julia's life is no different.   I notice that the most successful and fulfilled people I know have qualities similar to  the ones demonstrated by her.  There is no more powerful combination than finding work that we have a talent for and then working hard to master that talent.  And most truly great people recognize that anything worth doing requires the support of others.  In the movie, Julia not only receives the love and encouragement of her husband during the many challenges (and 8 years!) that it took her to co-write and get Mastering the Art of French Cooking published, but she also cultivated positive and powerful relationships with her French cookbook co-authors.  The synergy of their partnership created the bestselling book that introduced the art and science of French cooking to Americans and revolutionized our relationship with food and cooking. 

I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to laugh out loud and be inspired by one woman’s journey from the kitchen to the table.  Bon Appétit!