Julia Roberts grew up in Smyrna, Georgia. Since I was part of the school system that raised her (I was a middle school counselor for 10 years), I can say that she never knew a moneyed lifestyle. There was no affluent side of Smyrna at that time (and I don’t think there is now.)
Watching kids navigate their way through divorces, frequent apartment moves, loneliness (mom usually needed two jobs for rent or drugs) and the usual complexities of fitting in at school, I developed a hard-core philosophy I was sure of: “If you’re a kid who learns to survive in the public school system here in Smyrna, you’ll navigate life just fine.” Julia Roberts has done just that.
As near as I can figure, Julia wasn’t the Homecoming Queen, in the Homecoming Court or a cheerleader at Campbell High School. All clear indications that the in-crowd didn’t care for Julia. Maybe they didn’t like her big teeth, raucous laugh or the fact that she towered above them (she’s 5’9”). I feel sure she had big disappointments, lessons to learn and heartbreaks that ended in bad crying jags.
That’s part of why I think Julia Roberts comes to us as a 42-year-old megastar living with a semblance of balance - 3 children under six and a second marriage that’s not in the tabloids.
For their latest profile piece (Sunday, May 2, 2010), The New York Times makes certain we know they met with Julia in her sewing room while she whips up pillows for her kids to loll on during reading time. Don’t be astounded! People sew stuff in Smyrna, Georgia. I sewed all of my maternity clothes back then and 5 years later attempted doll clothes. (Doll clothes are impossibly tiny, so they come out lopsided versions of the picture your daughter had in mind. Disaster! ) While sewing in Malibu may seem trendy, Julia’s just doing what she remembers adults doing when she was a kid.
I’m always interested to read about Julia’s success, but even more, I’m curious about how her philosophy of life has shaped up. While promoting her new movie coming in August, Julia reflects on the emotional and spiritual journey of the book, Eat, Pray, Love. And, she gives us a glimpse into some of what grounds her.
“You have to learn,” says Julia, “to exorcise that restlessness and judgment. You have to learn, ‘Why can’t I just be happy with my life?’”
Today, reflect on that little gem. Then, we’ll meet in the sewing department at Walmart and exchange patterns. Julia might be there.
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