I was going on a holiday, and this seemed like the perfect book for it because it resonated with me a little too much ‘I Am Fine And Other Lies’ by Whitney Cummings. I concluded that a holiday is a neutral mind space to be exploring and broaching the fact that I have been feeling a little lost.
At this point, I had not been exposed to any of Whitney Cumming’s content. However, my lovely cousin had recommended this book, and I stuck to it because I read that she was one of the writers for 2 Broke Girls (my fav T.V series that I have not finished watching yet). Anyway, Whitney Cummings has endured her harrowing journey through her 20’s so that we won’t have to get the same bruises to learn the same lessons!
Each chapter is a novel in itself and deserves an in-depth analysis. She touches upon topics we have heard of before but never delved into the consequences of it! Oh, she has an eating disorder, but what does that mean? How does it affect your brain function and your behaviour? How does it sabotage the positive thoughts and twist the well-meaning actions of those around you into insidious thoughts?
It is like going through the ‘Series Of Unfortunate Events’, but in this case, it is a Molotov cocktail of addiction, anxiety, and preconceived notion. Her biography is inspiring because it is authentic and non-judgemental. She writes about her situation in a way lightened by humour so that it is not arduous for the unsuspecting reader to accept.
My top 5 takeaways from this book are:-
- Pain is not sexy. It is our body’s way of communicating with us.
- Boundaries are a good thing (I might get this one tattooed).
- Admitting that you don’t know something opens the door to knowledge.
- You can’t change anyone.
- Asking for help is a sign of strength.
The way she writes it makes you accept what you relate to, or what you see of yourself.
The chapter that I resonated with the most was the one on codependence. How we derive our value from being in a relationship with that person hence avoid conflict and any kind of wrong instinct that we might see. I am fascinated by her because she achieved amazing things in her career despite (and Whitney might say because) her personal challenges! So be sure to pick up this book if you are looking for a bit of growth and a lot of dry humour!