All Things Possible: Setbacks and Success in Politics and Life by Andrew M. Cuomo

All Things Possible: Setbacks and Success in Politics and Life by Andrew M. Cuomo

Author:Andrew M. Cuomo [Cuomo, Andrew M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Autobiography, Biography, Non-Fiction, Personal Memoirs, Political, Political Advocacy, Political Process, Political Science
ISBN: 9780062300089
Google: 30hGAwAAQBAJ
Amazon: 0062300083
Publisher: Harper
Published: 2014-10-13T23:00:00+00:00


People often ask me about the aftermath of my political and personal tribulations. The usual question is, “Did you change?”

The better question, I tell them, is, “Did you grow?”

And the answer is, Boy, did I.

To lose a career and a spouse in a matter of months is a double whammy I wouldn’t wish on anyone. But if I were given the chance to erase those experiences, I wouldn’t. They happened against my will. They left me devastated. I had to rebuild from the ground up. But what I thought was my undoing saved me. And was what made me the person I am today.

Those two seismic changes made me more empathetic, enabled me to see from different perspectives, and taught me that I am a great deal more resilient than I thought. In the process of working through the bad stuff, I developed simple, unshakable priorities. I dedicated myself to my girls, putting them ahead of work, politics, and myself. My hope is that when I get to the pearly gates and am asked if I was a good father, I will be in very good shape.

Being clear about what matters means that life is simpler for me now. I’m more appreciative of the irreplaceable and the small, powerful moments that make life whole, such as sitting quietly on my favorite rock at Saranac Lake. I’ve realized that core relationships are as rare as they are essential. These are the people who tell me what they think even when they know I don’t want to hear it. And they know there won’t be any fallout, because our relationship is based on truth.

When I was younger I put enormous pressure on myself. I was driven to accomplish as much as I could, as fast as I could. I had to prove myself. Now I’m content with myself, and that makes it much easier for me to be content with others. I do the best job I can. I don’t dwell on what outsiders say about me. I care about how I measure up for the people I love.

I’ve come to understand that politics is not the only way I define myself. As important, if not more important, is nurturing my girls and seeing them grow; it’s Sandy; it’s my parents and siblings; and it’s my relationships with the people who stuck by me then and will be there in the decades ahead.

Having gone through loss, I’m better equipped for what turned out to be a second tour of political duty. Losing gave me the chance to reflect on all I did and didn’t do. I lamented the what-ifs and the should-have-dones. I am clear about my mission: I am bolder and gutsier this time around. I am focused on people, not politics. I realize that political capital is good to have only if you spend it challenging and changing the status quo. I know that the political business is nasty and filled with demagogues, hypocrites, and self-appointed critics. Popular opinion is mercurial and often shallow.



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