I was raised never to carp about things and never to moan, because in vaudeville, which is my background, you just got on with it through all kinds of adversities.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes resilience and the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges.
Julie Andrews reflects on her upbringing and career in vaudeville, highlighting the value of not complaining and facing difficulties head-on. Her experience teaches that rather than dwelling on problems, one should focus on moving forward, embracing the challenges of life with a positive attitude.
In practice
In a motivational speech to students about overcoming challenges.
I've learned a lot of things about myself through singing. I used to have a certain dislike of the audience, not as individual people, but as a giant body who was judging me. Of course, it wasn`t really them judging me. It was me judging me. Once I got past that fear, it freed me up, not just when I was performing but in other parts of my life.
Singing has been a cherished gift, and my inability to sing has been a devastating blow.
My mother was terribly important to me, and I know how much I yearned for her in my youth, but I don't think I truly trusted her.
I come from a long line of below-stairs maids and gardeners. Good ol' peasant stock. My mother and her sister made a quantum leap out of that life. Then I made another quantum leap.
Every time I go out to perform, believe me. You never lose that fear of, 'I hope I do it right. I hope I don't fall flat on my face. I hope this will be good for them.'
Success is terrifying. Like happiness, it is often appreciated in retrospect. It's only later that you place it in perspective. Years from now, I'll look back and say, βGod, wasn't it wonderful.β
One's doing well if age improves even slightly one's capacity to hold on to that vital truism: "This too shall pass.
What other people do shouldn't affect you - we do things because of the kind of person we each want to be
One man's word is no man's word; we should quietly hear both sides.
It's good not only to realize that you can't please all of the people all of the time, but that you don't want to. There's a certain type of reader that you don't ever want to write for.
We do not know it because we are fooling away our time with outward and perishing things, and are asleep in regard to that which is real within ourself.
While everyone else is thinking about economics and politics, executive salaries and the future of the euro, do the opposite, even if it's hard. Invest in the spirit.
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