I just finished Yes Please, Amy Poehler's biography. Let me start off by saying that I'm really bad at reading for fun. I started the book at some point over the summer and only within the last few weeks did I really commit to it. But I finished it, and I'm trying to get more into the habit of reading when I'm bored instead of napping.
Anyway, I started the book a while ago and only finished it today, so the end of the book is a lot fresher in my mind. (I also ate a bag of buttery kettle corn while I read and stained all the last chapters. This is an apology to my roommate who will have to deal with that mess when she reads it. Sorry, Ollie.) Throughout reading the book, though, a lot of little things stuck with me. This post might be a bit of a spoiler for people who haven't read it, but mostly it's an Amy Poehler appreciation and reflection post.
1. Good for her, not for me.
Amy (we're on a first name basis now that I know her deep, biographical thoughts) uses this quote a lot in her book. I actually recognized this concept in my own thinking once I started college, so it was cool to see her talk about it. Basically, it's a quote that appreciates what some people do while being comfortable enough to say that you wouldn't want to do it yourself. I think the female pronoun is important here because there's this terrible concept of girl-hate circling social media as well as everyday life. Women are constantly putting each other down for no valid reason. I feel like high school was a big arena for thoughts like "Ew, what is she wearing?" and "Ugh, why is she dating him?" In college I listen to the girl next to me in class tell me about her biology major and I think, "Good for you, not for me." It's not an insult - it's an easy, encouraging and humbling mantra. I'm glad Amy put it in words.
2. Your parents are people, too.
There were several chapters that Amy dove into the details of her parent's lives, even before she was born. I think it's a general rule that you tend to think that your parent's lives didn't start until you graced them with your presence, but Amy asked her parents a bunch of questions that she put together in a narrative. She detailed their lives, personalities and little things like the most exciting moment of their life. It helped me to remember that my parents have strange memories that don't have anything to do with me. A weird, but eye-opening concept.
3. Don't take everything so seriously.
She never articulates this point, but Amy is a comedian after all. In her writing you can definitely tell that she just has something in her that loves to laugh. One story that sticks out in my head is her talking about her terrible New York apartment and the one time she opened the curtains to see a man masturbating outside her window. She loved it. I definitely would have cried and called the police, but sometimes a situation can just be laughed at.
4. Famous people aren't as great as your friends.
She name drops, like, a lot. Why wouldn't she? She's met everyone I can think of (most importantly Chris Pratt), but her best stories and life lessons come from her memories with friends and loved ones. When it comes down to it, the people in your life are the ones that are going to make it really great or really terrible. Maybe you're lucky and Tina Fey is both famous and your friend, but usually you just get the joy of the people who complain and laugh with you on a day-to-day basis instead of on a tv set. Chris Pratt doesn't know my sense of humor. He doesn't know what's going on in my life. What would he even be good for? (If Chris Pratt is reading this - this is all a lie. You're much better than all my friends. Hit me up.)
5. Kids are really great.
I'm only 20 so I'm not going to pretend like I'm ready for kids in any capacity, but people talk about having kids more than I think we realize. Tv shows and movies and friends talk about giving birth and raising small humans all the time. I think lately I've been watching stuff that highlights the bad - the sleeplessness, the responsibility, the loss of selfishness. I actually just read a paper about postpartum depression. Jeez. But Amy talks about her kids in a way that I think I've always secretly thought it would be like. She cuddles them and loves them and makes fun of them and watches them fight. The love I have for my mom is ridiculous, and the protective instinct I have for my little brother is also overwhelming sometimes. I can only imagine that having tiny humans that are half your DNA spike up those intense feelings even more. Who doesn't want that kind of unconditional love in their life?
6. Just do it.
A quote I'm thinking of right now is one that she mentions in passing, "remember, doing the thing is what's important, not the talking about the thing." There are so many apps and websites and self-help books that talk about all the things you can be doing. Here's a book on writing an amazing screenplay! An article on how to nail an interview! A website to track your book reading (I joined Goodreads today)! But nothing is going to happen unless you sit down and write a screenplay, schedule an interview, or sit down with a book. I think college is filled with a lot of people talking about doing the thing and only a small amount are really doing it. Just do the thing so you have something real to talk about.
7. I wish Amy Poehler was my mom.
My second mom. I love my mom, so if she was into women and were to marry one, I would just really want it to be Amy. She's full of so much vitality and humility. She doesn't let anyone boss her around or give her any shit. She figures people out and then takes a liking to them. She is open to a world of hard work, friendships and laughter. She's very similar to one of my biggest fictional role models, Leslie Knope; both of which have taught me so much about female friendships, taking care of yourself, and most of all just putting yourself out there and letting the world make opinions of you that you don't really care about. If it isn't obvious, I highly recommend Yes Please. Maybe you'll learn something from it.
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