If I still had my legs, I would be in line for a battalion command, and instead, I'm flying a desk.
Tammy DuckworthRead
Nobody wants to be on food stamps, but when my family lost everything, we were grateful for it. I was grateful the program was there so I could concentrate on my schoolwork and not on my empty belly. We were grateful that we had the support we needed to roll up our sleeves and rebuild our lives.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes gratitude for support during difficult times, allowing focus on personal growth and recovery.
Tammy Duckworth reflects on the experience of losing everything and the importance of gratitude for assistance programs like food stamps. She highlights how these supports enabled her to concentrate on her education rather than hunger, and acknowledges the strength and resilience it provided for her family to rebuild their lives, underscoring the positive aspect of using available resources in times of need.
Themes
GratitudeSupportResilienceRebuildingEducation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared in a speech about overcoming adversity and the importance of community support.
More from Tammy Duckworth
All quotes →It was the combination of hard work and a hand up that allowed me to become one of the first women to fly in combat missions and achieve my American Dream.
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I went to Iraq in 2004 because I believe in doing my duty, not because I agreed with the war.
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The women putting their lives at risk for our country deserve better than to be treated as second-class citizens.
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The wheelchair and the prosthesis give me a soapbox to stand on. If it helps me get my message across, I'm glad; then we need to talk about what we need to do for this country.
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As I recovered at Walter Reed, I worried about the soldiers who pulled me out of my helicopter that Friday afternoon. Would they make it back okay? And what about all the other soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who were also putting their lives on the line every day?
Tammy DuckworthRead
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