Why I could never be like Hillary Clinton
If you’re hoping I’m going to criticize
Hillary Clinton, you may as well stop reading now. I couldn’t admire a woman
more. So I suggest moving on if you don’t want a positive perspective.
Why could I never be like her? I can hardly
compare myself, but a few years ago, I was working for a company and had to run
a couple of big events. I took a completely different approach to what had been
done before, and for the first one, I had colleagues get so shitty with me,
they didn’t talk to me for weeks afterwards. It was very upsetting, especially
as I was just asking people to step up and deliver the best possible content
for the audience.
After the first one, I wanted to quit. It got
ugly and I got confused. Asking for the best of everyone shouldn’t have
attracted such ugliness, but it did.
However, the feedback from the first one
demonstrated that I was on the right path, and so a few months later, I did the
second one – and it was much bigger and considerably more high profile. The
feedback spoke again. “Best ever” and “thank you so much for giving us such a
valuable experience.” I’ve always believed that the worst thing I could ever do
is waste people’s time. Knowing I didn’t means a lot to me.
A few months after both were over, I was on
holiday with the family, trying to switch off from work. I’m not very good at
that, but every night I had nightmares about doing this event again the next
year and the dreams were brutal.
More than that, the stress I put myself
through with both events had physical ramifications. I ground my teeth so much
in the night, I cracked three of my back molars, resulting in two root canals
and one tooth extraction.
It made me wonder, why the hell would I put myself
through that again? Yeah I helped to create change. I steered the ship in a new
direction. I built my credibility. I delivered something that was valued and I
changed perceptions. But is that what life is about?
Well yes, but it has to be for something you
really believe in too right? Not just work, which is ultimately about making
other people richer – which is fine too, as I have no issue with people making
money.
I’m definitely a fighter, always have been, but
this experience showed me how ugly being a fighter can be. It also made me
think about what is worth fighting for – because it creates distance from the
family too. It has to. If I’m going to spend less time with my boys, lose teeth
and face massive dentist bills, wouldn’t I prefer to do it on something more
meaningful? Or is it just who I am? What I’m made of?
I still think about that experience often, and
while it will never take the fight out of me, it’s definitely made me wiser,
because I learnt the biggest lesson of them all - people really do not like change, despite all the talk
about being dynamic and agile.
I love change. Always have and always will. I
don’t understand fear of change, because change makes the world a better place,
and right now, our world is changing at its fastest pace in all of human
history. Bring it on I say.
So then I look to Hillary Clinton. For 30
years this woman has been a fighter and right now, she’s fighting for the right
to rule her country. And yet at every single step of the way she has been
ripped apart. She is the one who has copped the flack for Bill’s philandering,
as well as Monica Lewisnky of course. That is bloody shameful. Women are
responsible for a man not being able to keep his cock in his pants? That’s a
familiar discourse, yes?
Every speech she comes out most truthful and Trump is opposite in the
extreme, and yet she is the one who
isn’t trusted? Her emails, Benghazi, she’s manipulative, she’s on death’s door,
her dodgy philanthropy, and on it goes. She didn’t get a life-sized painting of
herself done, and then paid for it through her charity! I mean, who gets a
life-sized painting done of themselves these days anyway?
I don’t get why anyone thinks Trump is a
better option. I just don’t. You want something different – I get that. You’ve
had enough of typical politics. I get that too. This next Presidential cycle
has to be about changing the system, but you can’t do it with Trump at the
helm.
He is nothing but an ugly-hearted,
narcissistic, lying, sensationalist, moron. And if you think your lot in life
is bad now – it’s going to get a whole lot worse if he gets in. Basically the
whole world will be fucked. Trust me. That’s the only outcome if he wins in
November.
Getting back to Hillary. I sit here and think bloody
hell woman. Is it worth it? Do you love America and its promise so much you’ll
endure all of that vitriol? Do you really want to lead a country that is so judgmental
of you personally? Do you think you can ever be successful with that attitude
constantly swirling around you? Man, you’re tough, so bloody tough!
I would’ve stepped out long ago. I would’ve
said screw you to every asshole who ever said a bad word about me. I would’ve
said no way, nothing is worth this shit.
But you never have. You’re standing strong.
You’re fighting. You believe this is important. You don’t want to win for
yourself. You want to win because you know you’ve got what it takes for this
time in our world’s history. And I reckon you do too.
I know we’ll look back on your presidency and
say it was the best ever. Many don’t agree with me. I don’t care. I see this in
you, and I know I’ll cry the day, you, a woman, takes on the US Presidency for
the first time. But with you, it’s not about being a woman. It’s just about
being you.
I salute you woman. I really do. You amaze me.
#Imwithher.
Yours, without the bollocks
Andrea
Hillary
Clinton photo courtesy of Shutterstock.
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