Finishing what you start

I saw the movie "Julie & Julia" yesterday. As always, Nora Ephron has hit a home run with her depiction of more-or-less real life, portraying side-by-side stories of a modern, young New Yorker in search of meaning in her life with that of her iconic inspirer, the unsinkable Julia Child. For those of us who are old enough to actually remember Chef/teacher Julia Child's television cooking shows (the protagonist in the story, alas, must rent old tapes of the episodes), watching Meryl Streep in the role is like watching Child herself being channeled. Delightful does not adequately describe Streep's genius. And, oh, message to Julie Powell, author of the blog/book on whose story the movie is based: Julia still belongs to us...!

Certainly the movie must have inspired more than its share of foodies, those who left the theaters eager to buy "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," Chef Child's voluminous achievement. Or, curious about Child's life and art, many may have Googled related topics in order to learn more about her, or Powell and her original blog.

And, no doubt, the movie's broader appeal could be found in the loving, supportive, food-centered lives of the couples portrayed on the screen.

But, as I experienced the film by myself on my 50th birthday, I related most to one of the underlying themes: that of finishing what you start. Julie Powell's character in the film despairs that she has "attention deficit disorder" and that is her excuse, perhaps, for her lack of focus in life and her lack of dedication to any passion or fulfillment of her own potential.

Here I am, starting an online master's degree program, the Master of Science in Strategic Public Relations at George Washington University, feeling pressed into some need for "personal achievement" or "advancement" due to my stalled career as a communications administrator in higher education.

I must say, after all those years of coaching others (see http://www.praxiscoaching.com/), I wonder where my own motivation lies. I have proposed for years that anyone can learn and achieve the desired level of mastery in a skill or competency (or in this case, an academic achievement), with the proper motivation, supporting systems, practice and perseverance.

This blog proposes to follow my own journey, at age 50, starting a master's degree program I never thought I needed, and never really wanted to do.

Damn those inspiring movies! (That will be my first, and last, curse word for the blog. I generally do not find the sprinkling of expletives in my discourse useful or necessary.)

Here goes...!