Maria, I'll Be Waiting for You

I recently got a review copy of a charming little book by California First Lady Maria Shriver, "Just Who Will You Be?" (subtitle: Big Question*Little Book*Answer Within).  It's a quick, light read, and even has a cool point, that fame and fortune are not as important as having a passionate vision for your life.  But the book overall left me wanting...

I've admired Maria Shriver for about 35 years, since I tagged along with my mom handing out McGovern/Shriver bumper stickers (I still have a pin somewhere - my first campaign pin!).  She was  enough older than me to be cool, without being so grown-up as to be inaccessible.  I actually voted for Schwarzenegger, my first Republican vote ever, because if Maria Shriver was married to him, he couldn't be all bad. And I'm glad to meet her more in this book, she seems as genuinely nice and humble and intelligent as I've always imagined she'd be.  But Maria - and I say this with respect and admiration - you can do better than this.

I have nothing against well-written, soul-baring voyages of self-discovery.  But I can get those for nothing all over the blogosphere.  Maria, you've got it all - brains, charisma, connections in politics in both parties at both state and federal levels, access to Hollywood stars, and you even write well!  You could change the world!  Instead, you're writing books like this.

Think of JK Rowling.  She had nothing, and as a single mum writing from a kitchen table in a council flat she changed children's literature.  Think of Candy Lightner - from the depths of despair at losing her daughter, she founded MADD and changed society's attitude towards drinking and driving.  Think of Cindy Sheehan - she had no access to anyone, but rallied a big portion of the nation to protest the war in Iraq through her courage and grit. 

Maria, you're the equal of any of them, and you're starting the race halfway around the track.  So go fix our broken health care system - or our disintegrating environment - or the shameful evisceration of school budgets - or the growing epidemic of childhood obesity.  Whatever is your thing, take it and run with it.  Change the world - I dare you!

Am I holding you to a higher standard?  Yes.  You should be held to one.  You don't need to worry about how you're going to replace the money you pulled from retirement savings to pay property taxes, or who is going to pick your children up from school when you're out of town on business.  You could turn down a job (on NBC-TV news, no less) so you'd have more time for self-exploration. 

My self-exploration happens between 5:30 and 6:00 AM - the only time during my day when someone doesn't need me for something.  It's a nice time to do a little yoga, or say a prayer, or drink a cup of coffee, but it ain't enough time to change the world.

So Maria, go do it for me.  I'll be cheering from the sidelines, I'll send a contribution, I'll blog about it here.   I might even go out and buy your next book, where you tell me how you did it.

An original post to Silicon Valley Moms Blog.