A Little MS with a Little MSW

I attended a book signing of a NYT best-selling author recently. My first, which is impressive for a lifelong bookworm such as myself. It was a small gathering of (mostly) women, in a hip, downtown bookstore. The author embodied the definition of ‘dork’ well, as I imagine many Ivy League grads tend to do.

I am fascinated by people – especially creatives – who rise to the top. Surely, luck has its place in their success. But it is more than that. It is intellect. Fortitude. Wit. Imagination. DNA sometimes collides with Nurture and Luck to produce an almost otherworldly recipe that can’t be replicated.

We all have borne witness to talent wasted. But to meet and smile for a photo with talent embraced, pursued, explored, and nurtured is…inspiring. I am inspired by those who not only possess talent but will stop at nothing… or no one. I do believe that Luck is an ingredient in almost everything, but it does not exist in a vacuum.

To be honest, people who inspire me also magnify my own laziness and Type B way of life. The literary realm emerged as a personal strength of mine at a young age, but I did not pursue it as ferociously as perhaps I was capable. Partly because my imagination is stubborn and random, like the rest of me. Partly because I was given two extra doses of lazy during my creation.

Who knows, though. I often think I am a little (or a lot) like Elle Woods. I wake up one day and decide to do something, and I do it. I am aware that I have a much better chance of winning the lottery than of becoming a best-selling author, but thankfully, the New York Times is no longer as much the authority on who has “arrived” as an author.

Perhaps one day my stubborn, random ramblings will become published stubborn, random ramblings, thanks to this beautiful hot mess of a digital age in which we find ourselves. Diversity says, move over Type A Gung-Hos and make room for Type B Scattered-Hos!