Carolina QuotesAnd so I remember my mother talking to me at that time and told me that I was her child and as far as she was concerned, I was beautiful. And beauty was only skin deep, and that was not the only thing that you needed to concentrate on. And then I learned other ways of dealing with that kind of situation, in that I said, well, you know, I can develop some talents of my own, too - one of them being a smart person. And so that's what I did. I became an individual who was well-read, learned, and all of a sudden that whole business of what I looked like didn't matter anymore. It was what I had to offer.
Clara Leach Adams-Ender
Carolinian
Source
Interview with Cheryl Corley, News & Notes, NPR, 27 March 2007
- form
- interview
- work
- News & Notes, NPR
- year
- 2007
Cite this record
“And so I remember my mother talking to me at that time and t…” Clara Leach Adams-Ender. Carolina Quotes, record CQ-0029743790. https://carolinaquotes.com/quote/0029743790
More from Clara Leach Adams-Ender
1. Whatever you do, do it with enthusiasm. 2. In all relationships with people, relate to them so that they will speak kindly of you, especially when you are not present. 3. There is only one thing in life over which you have total control, and that is your attitude. 4. Always encourage others, especially youngsters. 5. Taking action will cure most fears. 6. Keep your body tuned. 7. Only to the extent that you love yourself can you ever love another person. 8. Possess high expectations of yourself. After all, it is what you expect of you that really counts. 9. You have choices in all situations- whether you like them or not. 10. To not decide is also a decision. 11. Giving service makes you feel better about yourself that you made a difference in someone's life. 12. It is not what happens to you in life that is important- it's how you react to what happens to you. 13. A good sense of humor will help you over many rough spots. 14. Take your work seriously, but never take yourself too seriously. 15. Above all else, be kind.
I'd served the military with honor and distinction and felt things had gone well as a resuly. And I missed that. The best analogy I can think of is to suddenly cross the finish line after running a three-decade marathon. A marathon where the competition and the camaraderie have you feeling pumped about participating every day. I loved the Army, and I loved my service in defense of my country. Consequently, the first four days after I retired was a little weepy, as well as exhausted as hell. After waking up at four that first morning, I lounged in bed until nine o'clock the next three days. That may sound funny to some people, but to me nine o'clock was downright decadent! I did stop sleeping late, but was a lost soul for a good month after retirement. The void retirement had carved into my existence was almost similar to the passing of a friend or relative. I grappled with sadness and fond remembrances and even a little self-pity.
My dad was probably my greatest motivation force as a child because he really - he and my mom both really convinced us that what they believed was good for us was the right thing for us. And so when he said he thought we needed to be educated, I just started heading in that direction.