Maria

And I feel like hopefully I've been there for you through all of your transitions, through all the people you've been involved with, right? Yes. And I think that's one of life's greatest gifts, to have a relationship that stands the test of time. And that's given me the strength to be standing here. I write in this book that when I got separated, it was a masterclass in friendship.

And I feel like hopefully I've been there for you through all of your transitions, through all the people you've been involved with, right? Yes. And I think that's one of life's greatest gifts, to have a relationship that stands the test of time. And that's given me the strength to be standing here. I write in this book that when I got separated, it was a masterclass in friendship.

And I feel like hopefully I've been there for you through all of your transitions, through all the people you've been involved with, right? Yes. And I think that's one of life's greatest gifts, to have a relationship that stands the test of time. And that's given me the strength to be standing here. I write in this book that when I got separated, it was a masterclass in friendship.

And you were there for me. As you well know, you smile, but at every step of the way. And I think that's how we become who we are meant to be, is that people...

And you were there for me. As you well know, you smile, but at every step of the way. And I think that's how we become who we are meant to be, is that people...

And you were there for me. As you well know, you smile, but at every step of the way. And I think that's how we become who we are meant to be, is that people...

hold our hands they walk with us when we don't think we can get there on our own yeah and are willing to tell you the truth about yourself amen yeah and are willing to tell you the truth about yourself even when it's hard to listen right exactly so let's get into it this is not a memoir no it's not so but how would you describe it I'd say it's really an exploration of my life.

hold our hands they walk with us when we don't think we can get there on our own yeah and are willing to tell you the truth about yourself amen yeah and are willing to tell you the truth about yourself even when it's hard to listen right exactly so let's get into it this is not a memoir no it's not so but how would you describe it I'd say it's really an exploration of my life.

hold our hands they walk with us when we don't think we can get there on our own yeah and are willing to tell you the truth about yourself amen yeah and are willing to tell you the truth about yourself even when it's hard to listen right exactly so let's get into it this is not a memoir no it's not so but how would you describe it I'd say it's really an exploration of my life.

It's an exploration really of my childhood. My daughter calls it reporter poetry. It's poetry from the front lines of my life. It's an exploration of my childhood. Who was I? How did I end up in this family? What did this family mean to me? How did I become who I am today? What's mine? What's theirs? What should I drop? What do I want to own and who do I want to be?

It's an exploration really of my childhood. My daughter calls it reporter poetry. It's poetry from the front lines of my life. It's an exploration of my childhood. Who was I? How did I end up in this family? What did this family mean to me? How did I become who I am today? What's mine? What's theirs? What should I drop? What do I want to own and who do I want to be?

It's an exploration really of my childhood. My daughter calls it reporter poetry. It's poetry from the front lines of my life. It's an exploration of my childhood. Who was I? How did I end up in this family? What did this family mean to me? How did I become who I am today? What's mine? What's theirs? What should I drop? What do I want to own and who do I want to be?

And I think I Am Maria, as I write in the beginning, the reflection is when you're in a big family like that, you don't really have your own identity. You're a part of something larger than yourself.

And I think I Am Maria, as I write in the beginning, the reflection is when you're in a big family like that, you don't really have your own identity. You're a part of something larger than yourself.

And I think I Am Maria, as I write in the beginning, the reflection is when you're in a big family like that, you don't really have your own identity. You're a part of something larger than yourself.

Exactly. And so people would just come up to me and they would say, I'd say like, oh, hi, I'm Maria. They're like, no, no, no. But which Kennedy are you? Which Kennedy are you? And I'd say, well... I'm a Shriver. I'm a Shriver. They're like, but you're a Kennedy, right? Because I don't want to be talking to you if you're not a Kennedy. Right. And then who's your mother? Who's your father?

Exactly. And so people would just come up to me and they would say, I'd say like, oh, hi, I'm Maria. They're like, no, no, no. But which Kennedy are you? Which Kennedy are you? And I'd say, well... I'm a Shriver. I'm a Shriver. They're like, but you're a Kennedy, right? Because I don't want to be talking to you if you're not a Kennedy. Right. And then who's your mother? Who's your father?

Exactly. And so people would just come up to me and they would say, I'd say like, oh, hi, I'm Maria. They're like, no, no, no. But which Kennedy are you? Which Kennedy are you? And I'd say, well... I'm a Shriver. I'm a Shriver. They're like, but you're a Kennedy, right? Because I don't want to be talking to you if you're not a Kennedy. Right. And then who's your mother? Who's your father?

And I always had this sense of like that being just myself was not enough. And I think that propelled me throughout my life. And so coming to the place where it would be OK to be myself, claim my own identity, I am. So my mother named me. I am Maria. Full sentence, stop. It's not my job. It's not the family that I'm in. I'm not somebody's niece, cousin, ex-wife, wife, friend. I am my own being.

And I always had this sense of like that being just myself was not enough. And I think that propelled me throughout my life. And so coming to the place where it would be OK to be myself, claim my own identity, I am. So my mother named me. I am Maria. Full sentence, stop. It's not my job. It's not the family that I'm in. I'm not somebody's niece, cousin, ex-wife, wife, friend. I am my own being.