Lena Dunham Will Make Your 7th Grade and 30-Year-Old Self Feel Good About Monday
A case of the Mondays can be crippling. Whether you have a major test, an important presentation or are trying to beat down that menacing bully known as writer’s or maker’s block, we have some #MotivationalMonday inspo courtesy of creative crush Lena Dunham. This weekend at Sundance, we heard Lena share more than just plans for a dream future Girls reunion. In a TimesTalk panel with Norman Lear, Lena opened up about what it *really* means to reveal more of yourself than just some skin on TV or an embarrassing story in a book. In true Lena Dunham fashion, homegirl left us with the kind of wisdom-filled words that remind you you’re not alone in whatever personal journey you’re on while simultaneously inspiring your 20/30-something self to be the creative genius that teeny bopper you would be impressed by.
Looking back on the last year since the release of her memoir Not That Kind of Girl, Lena described the experience of meeting people with whom she has instant bonds with — who, whether painfully or joyfully, relate to parts of her life she has turned into art on TV or in writing.
“As someone who didn’t necessarily have the greatest 7th grade experience, someone who didn’t necessarily feel like they were going to have a life full of magical friends — who thought that was going to be a struggle — it’s amazing how liberating it can be to express yourself and to be told, not only is that okay but ‘I’m here with you…’ We all spend our lives feeling this sense of ‘terminal uniqueness’ and to realize that other people share what feel like unsharable experiences is life changing.”
That’s powerful to think about. As all creatives and makers know, sometimes it’s difficult to do just that — make. But turning our experiences into art becomes a gift that everyone gets to tear into and share with others, whether it manifests itself in an Emmy-winning show, a painting, a blog post or your medium of choice. We’ll leave you with a few more Lena-fied words on this (snowy, for you East Coasters) morning:
Cheers to the kind of creative, butt kicking Monday that your seventh grade self would be proud of and your 30-year-old #girlboss self will be too.
What advice would you give your 7th grade self? What would she think of who you turned out to be? Tweet us about it @BritandCo!
(Photo via Nicholas Hunt/Getty)