iRead: Yes Please

I’m coming at you with another book review this week, and I’m happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Next on my list was Amy Poehler’s Yes Please, and I was really excited to dig into it. I’ve been a big fan of Ms. Poehler since becoming a huge follower of Parks and Recreation during my pregnancy. It was my happy place and helped curb my anxiety after experiencing a loss. It means a lot to my fangirl heart. Her character, Leslie Knope, is basically what every woman aspires to be (or should), and I was happy to read that Amy was not Leslie, but someone I could relate to even more.

Yes Please gives you such a candid look into Amy’s life, and I think it especially spoke volumes to me because of the stage of my life that I am in. As a new mom in her mid-30’s trying to navigate through a world of new experiences and challenges, this book made me feel like I wasn’t alone. And not only was I not alone, but if I met Amy freaking Poehler for drinks, we would have so much common ground to talk about. And that felt refreshing.

I won’t go through the entire book, but some of the highlights that really spoke to me were the following:

“Good for you, not for me.”

This is a phrase that Amy discovered works best when you don’t agree with someone, but at the same time do not want to offend or belittle them. I think it’s so powerful and I’ve been using it a lot since finishing the book. She used it in reference to her onscreen and real life friend, Rashida Jones, who decided to give birth to her kids without any drugs and man, could I relate! I could have never passed on my epidural, but a lot of my friends have. I do not upturn my nose to their decision – good for them, not for me. I wish more people could use this mentally instead of all the verbal attacks I see being tossed around on social media. Being a woman is hard enough before everyone decides they need to judge every single one of your decisions and hold them under a microscope. Lets try to live in harmony, ok?

“It’s easier to be brave when you’re not alone.”

Amy spoke frequently about not going down this road called life alone and the importance of female friends. When I was younger, I thought women brought too much drama to my life so I only had male friends. This lasted for quite some time until I found my tribe. It was then that I realized I just hadn’t met “my people,” and that their gender had absolutely nothing to do with it. The friendships you have with women are paramount. Now that I am a mom, I have experienced some pretty overwhelming moments where I feel like I cannot do it all and that I am being judged constantly. Without my tribe of amazingly strong and intelligent female friends (who also happen to be mommies themselves), I would be lost in despair. I feel like I can conquer the world. Get yourself a squad, girl gang, whatever you want to call it. If you pick right, there will be nothing that you cannot do.

“You can only move if you are actually in the moment.”

Amy speaks of time travel in her book, but not in the traditional sense. She feels like people, places and things can help you time travel. You never know who will enter your life, who is around you right now that will eventually become your best friend or your enemy. Certain places can elicit all sorts of beautiful or sorrowful memories, and things can sometimes change your mindset. And what stayed with me the most was her statement that no matter how much she “time travels” through these methods, she realizes that she is always exactly where she is supposed to be. I have regrets that I constantly remind myself should not be because I am always where I should be and strongly believe that things happen for a reason, no matter how dark they may seem at the time. Because I went through such a difficult time a couple of years ago, is the reason that I am where I am today: happy, goal-oriented and less scared. A better version of me. And I realize that because now as a mom I am forcing myself to live in the moment. Less doing and more being. Before I know it, Luna will be in high school and I will miss all these little moments. I don’t want to take them for granted. And by living that way across all settings of my life, I see me. I don’t know if that makes sense, but there is some sort of mental clarity. I see where I was and how far I have come and I am proud.

So overall, I can not recommend this book enough. It’s not only a funny memoir for anyone that’s a fan, but it’s also a very candid view into Amy’s life. It was shocking to read that someone with so much success and fame could be so relatable and its made me love her even more. Everything she speaks of is not Hollywood mumbo jumbo, but true life lessons that can apply to everyone.

Yes please.