Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir (42 page)

Y
OU MAY FIND
that life goes in a circle. Sometimes the same situation comes up again and again till we get it right. I have begun to think that when this happens to me, the first time maybe I was too young, the second time too angry, but the third time? I’ve got to show up.

And here’s a fine example: I am here at Simon & Schuster writing my life story. And as I said, I was here before for my first fulltime job when I was seventeen years old as the worst gal Friday anyone had ever seen. I was fired and have since called myself a gal Friday the thirteenth. On one of the last days that I was writing this book with Jancee at Simon & Schuster, I met a security guard in the elevator. I noticed he was getting off at the same floor where they gave me an office, so I smiled at him and said, “What? Are they getting you to write your life story, too?” And he said, “No, I don’t think my life story would be as interesting as yours.” And I said, “Really? I bet it is if you just think about it.” I wanted to tell him I was an ex-employee of the place too. But I didn’t, I just smiled and told him to have a nice day. If life is for learning, then we all better get to know our book. I hope there is something in this book that will help you
with your story. When one person shares their story, it might help another guy get a head start. If my story can help anyone else, then I think it’s important.

And remember this: It’s not what others think about you that will allow you to succeed. It’s what you think about you that allows you to succeed. Because if you can picture yourself doing something, don’t listen to anybody who tells you that you can’t. You have to just try. Otherwise you’re gonna be saying should’ve, could’ve, would’ve, and you don’t want to be saying that in your life. And if you get to the top of the mountain, share your story.

Xx
Cyn