I Miss You When I Blink

More about the book

Mary Laura Philpott believed she had found the secret to happiness: always being right. However, after checking off her life’s to-do list—career, marriage, children—she felt anything but fulfilled. Instead of contentment, she experienced anxiety and a sense of being stuck in a monotonous routine filled with endless obligations and superficial conversations. Reflecting on her situation, she questioned whether maintaining a façade of happiness or escaping it all was the greater failure. In this memoir-in-essays, Philpott explores the conflicting pressures of modern adulthood with humor and sincerity. She shares her personal experiences to illustrate that identity crises are not limited to midlife; they can occur repeatedly and are essential for growth. Philpott reassures readers that it’s normal to reinvent oneself and offers practical advice, such as the importance of grounding oneself when feeling overwhelmed. Ultimately, she emphasizes that when dissatisfaction arises, one doesn’t need to abandon everything for drastic change. Instead, by embracing various aspects of oneself, it’s possible to discover identity and belonging. This book serves as a heartfelt and relatable guide, encouraging readers to accept that multiple truths can coexist and that sometimes, making mistakes is part of finding the right path in life.