I Woke Up and Said, ‘I think I’ll write a book today!’
Well not exactly….but I am writing a book! A centralized thesis if you will (according to my best friend Caitlin). An anchor for my personal brand and beliefs (according to my best friend Eli).
You may have thought this was a post where I pat myself on the back for thinking it would be great to write a book, and then just writing one (like Elle woke up one day and said ‘I think I’ll go to Harvard today,’ and she went)! But that’s not this post.
This is the post where I pat myself on the back for being my full self out in the world, so I could attract incredible friends (who really saw me for me, and helped propel toward good things in my future).
I love to write, I love to talk, and most of all— I love to help people. My best friend Caitlin always ‘has her finger on the pulse’ (according to what she put in a cover letter to apply to a job about 15 years ago and I won’t let it go). She told me ‘books are back’.
Eli, also one of my closest friends, encouraged me to write a book so I have something potential collaborators can reference. It honestly never occurred to me—yet now I can’t stop writing.
What I am proud of most—-that I am sharing this post to relay—is that a young Jamie told the truth about her heart, without thinking about what was impressive or trendy.
Both Caitlin and Eli were (and still are) SO cool. Brilliant, athletic, hilarious, creative, and more. Did I mention good-looking? High school Caitlin intimidated me, but we bonded over a love of Motown. It turned out to be more powerful than the bond of sports (and thank goodness because I am NOT an athlete and Caitlin was an awesome one).
Eli has always been (and continues to be) a real-life Zack Morris. Yet he is also one of the people I connect to most in my entire life. Thank goodness my school newspaper soul didn’t avoid him for being the President of his fraternity in college when we both got coveted Sports Illustrated internships in New York City.
That summer (almost 20 years ago) cemented a personal connection that began because of ambition. Eli and I wanted to move to New York, wanted to work in advertising, felt invigorated by networking, and thought the same things were hilarious. He was like a brother to me instantly.
In case it feels like I am just bragging about the friendships I’ve had—I am not. What I am doing is encouraging you to be your authentic self every. single. day. Every single chance you get. You cannot guess who around you is a kindred spirit. You can’t judge a book by its cover…and you can’t meet kindred spirits (who will stick with you well into your adult life) unless you put yourself in places that celebrate your passions.
Thank goodness I spoke up about loving Motown with Caitlin. Thank goodness I was candidly honest about my aspirations when I was interning with Eli. They are still my closest friends, they root for me in all aspects and seasons of my life, and they are both the reason I am writing a book.
I hope you fling yourself out to opportunities and places to meet your people. Once you’re there, I hope you reveal your soul so those people can reach their hands out to you, and help bring you down the path you’re meant to go. Thank you Caitlin and Eli. Look for me on the New York Times Bestseller List (maybe not with the first book, BUT SOMEDAY).
