Keep Stirring the Pot: Lessons from Julie & Julia

Last night, I watched Julie & Julia movie from Netflix. I don’t even know what made me choose and play that movie. Something inside me just nudged me to watch it. I have picked many random movies like this on Netflix. I should admit that I am a huge fan of Meryl Streep. I have always admired the way she brings her characters to life with such warmth and authenticity. She is the finest ever.

Somewhere between the laughter, the butter, and the beautiful French dishes, something about this movie touched me. It reminded me of something I had quietly forgotten: we must never stop doing what we love, even when no one’s watching.

If you haven’t seen it, Julie & Julia tells two real stories. One is about Julia Child, who finds her passion for French cooking and making it accessible for Americans. The other is about Julie Powell, a young woman who decides to cook every recipe from Julia’s cookbook in one year and document her journey through a blog.

So,

Two women.
Different eras.
Different worlds.
But both are bound by the same fire called “passion”.

The Magic of Starting Small

What I loved most about Julie’s story is how she starts. Julie’s got no fame, no followers, no fancy kitchen. She is just a woman trying to find joy and purpose in her everyday life.

That felt so relatable. Because how many times do we stop ourselves from starting something because it’s not “big enough”?

We tell ourselves:
“I will start when I have more time to do it.”
“I will start once I am better at it.”
“I will start when things settle down.”

But the truth is that a perfect moment rarely comes. Julie didn’t have it all figured out. She just started. And that’s what made her journey so beautiful.

It’s Never Too Late

Then there’s Julia Child, played so brilliantly by Meryl Streep. Watching her learn to cook, struggle, laugh, and embrace her curiosity with such joy was pure inspiration.

Julia didn’t wake up one day knowing she wanted to be a chef. It’s a process. After moving to Paris with her husband, she tried different things. She even tried “hat-making”. She was constantly asking herself, “What am I good at? What makes me happy?”, “What should I be doing?“.

And then, she found it. It’s “food”. She realized how much she enjoyed every bite, and every aroma. It gave her a sense of joy and satisfaction that she hadn’t felt before.

That’s such a comforting reminder, “it’s never too late to begin again“.
Whether it’s learning, writing, mentoring, or creating something of your own, the timing doesn’t matter as much as starting does.

Passion Isn’t Always Pretty

The movie also shows the messy, honest side of following your passion. Julie burns dishes, breaks down, questions herself, and feels invisible at times, yet she keeps going.

Julia Child didn’t get famous in a single day. Behind her cheerful smile was years of persistence, patience, and countless challenges. She faced criticism for being “too tall,” “too loud,” or “too ambitious” for her time. People didn’t always take her seriously, and publishers initially rejected her book idea.

That’s what real passion looks like. It’s not about perfection or applause. It’s about showing up again and again, because you love what you do even when it’s hard.

A Gentle Reminder to Myself

As I watched, I realized something.
It’s been a while since I sat down to write from my heart. I have been writing for work, creating for others, mentoring, and speaking but, I have missed that quiet, personal joy of writing for myself.

Julie & Julia reminded me how good it feels to do something just because you love it.

Because that’s really what it’s about, nurturing your passion like you would care for a plant. It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs your attention and love.

For the Women Who Need This Reminder

I often tell the women I mentor:

“The world doesn’t need a perfect version of you. It needs a passionate one.”

If you’ve been waiting to start something — this is your sign.

Start that blog. Hit the publish button. Don’t think about how many are gonna read that.
Start learning that skill. You will master it one day.
Start building your portfolio. You should be talking good things about you.
Start creating something that excites you, even if no one else sees it yet.

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to begin.

Confidence grows with action.
And sometimes, all it takes is that quiet nudge, the same kind that made me click “play” on Julie & Julia last night.

My Takeaway

This movie isn’t just about cooking. It’s about rediscovering yourself through what you love. It’s about showing up, even when no one’s watching.
It’s about small, consistent efforts that slowly build something meaningful.

Both Julie and Julia followed their hearts and somehow, in doing that, they inspired the world.

So here’s to passion.
Here’s to courage.
Here’s to doing what makes you feel alive — and to keeping the pot stirring, one small step at a time.