Never Stop Dreaming...

An ode to Julia Child for International Women's Month

When are you too old to start down a new path? NEVER! We owe it to ourselves to continuously evaluate new paths throughout our lives.

Given the popularity of 30 under 30, 40 under 40 and other lists celebrating the feats of the young, you’d think we’re all washed at 41. Bollocks! As long as you have breathe and a beating heart, you have the opportunity to explore new paths or adapt current ones.

Don’t just take my word for it.

Tim Denning

provided his own examples on the “Late Bloomer” theme recently. I was reminded of this at the Cincinnati Museum Center this past weekend.

My family decided a great activity would be to show my parents the museum. They were in town to see their lovely grand daughters. Why not show them this cool exhibit house filled with dinosaur bones and space capsules in an old train terminal? To our satisfaction, we discovered there was a special exhibit dedicated to Julia Child.

As we toured the exhibit, I realized there was no better person to discuss during International Women’s Month than her. Many remember her as THE celebrity chef before Top Chef. Yet, she is much more than that. She is a true career adventurer. We can learn from her as we forge our own way.

5 Things to Remember About Julia Child

Julia Child had a robust life during which she explored a variety of spaces. As I read about her life, her range was clear. You can find a more extensive chronicle of her history at the National Women’s History Museum or on Wikipedia. Here are five themes that stood out to me.

A Dreamer

She dreamed of adventure and putting her mind to work. Early on, she dreamed of writing and even molded these skills in high school. Her father did not share her dreams. Like many fathers, especially when she was young, he envisioned a life as a professionals wife for her. Some might say he wanted her to be practical. She had other plans.

A Late Bloomer

Julia didn’t start her career in cooking until she was 40! In 1952, she started the School of the Three Food Lovers with two friends. They saw an opportunity to educate American women living in France on French cooking. This led to books, television, Emmy’s, and international fame.

Started Small; Faced Adversity

She took a beginners course on cooking before enrolling at the esteemed cooking school, Le Cordon Bleu. Plus, many people didn’t think learning to cook was a worthwhile hobby at the time. (Houghton Mifflin rejected her book Mastering the Art of French Cooking.)

My guess is that she didn’t start with the idea of hosting a cooking show that would eventually be lampooned by Dan Aykroyd on SNL. Rather, she had a simple interest that she wanted to explore. It was a snowball that gradually became a magnificent snowman.

Had Help

She didn’t do it alone. She had teammates that explored and created with her. Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle started the cooking school with Julia. Plus, they teamed up to bring Mastering the Art of French Cooking to life. Monumental quests require help, right?

She Had Range & Evolved

Julia worked as a copywriter immediately after school. She wanted to be a novelist. She was a researcher in WWII with the OSS. She became an author. She was in television. She was more than a TV chef and food lover. She explored her interests over nine decades of life.

You’re Never Too Old

Remember, age is just a number. As long as you have breath you have life. Take note of your dreams and your interests. Explore them via classes or experiences. Ask others for help if you don’t know where to start or need outside perspective. Most of us will never gain fame like Julia Child. That doesn’t matter. All that matters is if you feel good about the path you are forging!

Thanks for reading!

Paul G. Fisher