[2021-09-11] Clementine
I recently read a story that I loved:
Winston Churchill's wife, Clementine, was talking to a street sweeper.
When she finished her conversation, Churchill asked her, "What did you talk about for so long?"
Clementine smiled and replied, "Many years ago, he was madly in love with me."
Churchill responded, "So you could have been the wife of a street sweeper today."
"Oh no, my love," Clementine said. "If I had married him, he would have been the prime minister today."
I admired Clementine's wit, but also appreciated her conviction and sense of self-worth. Clearly, she recognized the support she provided to Churchill and the value she brought to their marriage.
I, too, have benefited greatly from the support of my spouse. Chris' willingness to work in the home and serve as the primary caregiver for our children enabled me to devote more time to my career than I might otherwise have done. His confidence in me and his assurance that he would support me in whatever role I took on convinced me to accept an offer to become an assistant deputy minister. His continued indulgence of my writing—both the time it takes and the stories I share—has freed me to publish a daily post to this blog, revealing details about us and our family.
Most of us could probably point to another person who was instrumental in our success. This could be a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a child, a teacher, a coach, a colleague. Often such influencers helped us to believe in ourselves and our potential, to ignore the criticisms of our detractors, and to face and conquer our fears. Their influence might have been fleeting—a single comment or exchange—or enduring—encouragement over many years.
Reach out to the influencers who helped you to go further than you might have otherwise gone. Let them know precisely how their intervention, example or confidence changed your trajectory. They will never tire of knowing the difference they made in your life.
