February | 2019 | Geneen Roth
New Thoughts
Published February 25, 2019

Lady Gaga’s acceptance speech last night …

was inspired. She talked about how hard it is, how disciplined a person has to be — and of course, all the rejections and to keep going, keep trying. Not give up. I think both — the work it takes to be good at anything and the ability to keep going and not give up with rejection after rejection are so important. It reminded me of having gotten 25 rejection letters for my first book, Feeding the Hungry Heart (which was then called Is There Life After Chocolate?) and then, receiving one letter from an editor at a New York publishing house asking to see the book. One is all it takes. There’s always one waiting to be found….

 
Published February 5, 2019

My brother and me. …

I rarely talk about him, but when I do, it’s the Hostess Snoball story I tell, about his sweet heart and how he wanted to share everything with me, including his package of Snoballs (I was ten, he was seven). Me? I felt as if I never had enough to give away. (In fact, with that package of pink-and-white mounds of sugar and marshmallow, I’d eaten both without telling him). Anyway, it turns out that we are friends now and that life on earth would have been so lonely without him. He teaches me about generosity (still), about even-temperedness (maybe in my next life), about willingness, still, to share anything—particularly and especially, the food on his plate (but pretty much, anything at all). Also, he makes me laugh quicker and harder than anyone. One look exchanged between us and I’m off on a giggling tear and no one else knows why. I always wished I had a sister. Now, I can’t believe my good fortune at having a brother. This very one.