Blinkist

Dear Girls – Remember Who You Are

Level: Easy 94
Remember Who You Are
Reminding yourself of where and who you come from can be a source of wisdom and
fortitude.

Everyone has a story about where they come from. These stories – good or bad, short
and sweet, or filled with (a) ___________– often make up the foundation of who we
are. Ali’s story started with her relatives immigrating to the United States –  her
mother (b) ____________________, and her paternal grandfather from China.
Reflecting on these journeys and the fortitude they demanded has helped her find the
strength to (c) ________________________ throughout her life. When Ali first
moved to New York City, for example, she had to share a cramped apartment with (d)
________ other people. Whenever she felt the need to complain, however, she
reflected on the story of her grandfather’s lonely childhood.

At just eight years old, he had moved to Monterey, (e) ___________, all by himself.
There, he made ends meet by working as a live-in cook and cleaner in the house of a
heartless family; though he was a hard worker, they didn’t even provide him with a
bed. Instead, he slept in their basement with only (f) ________________________
beneath him. Poverty followed him into his adult life, too. Unable to afford enough
beds for his family, he slept alongside his wife on the hard floor. 

Looking back at her grandfather’s life humbled Ali and helped her understand more
about herself and her character. It helped her see that, as for most people, the values
and (g) ___________________ that defined her had been partially, if not entirely,
shaped by the things (h) __________________________. That’s why, like her
grandfather, she was capable of getting through any situation. 

In that light, her miserable New York apartment was easy to manage – it was just a
matter of (i) ___________________ and working hard until she was able to afford
something better. Thankfully, saving money was something else that she had learned
from her Asian (j) ______________________. 

Another thing they taught her was to become a huge factor in her professional
success: the ability (k) ___________________. Having been mercilessly teased by
her family her entire life, Ali was well prepared for all the bombing she would have to
do on the way to becoming a (l) _____________________. That’s the beauty of the
wisdom we glean from family – it becomes a giant toolbox that we can reach into all
our lives, whether or not we realize it.

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Blinkist
Dear Girls – Remember Who You Are
Level: Easy 94
Remember Who You Are
Reminding yourself of where and who you come from can be a source of wisdom and
fortitude.

Everyone has a story about where they come from. These stories – good or bad, short
and sweet, or filled with twists – often make up the foundation of who we are. Ali’s
story started with her relatives immigrating to the United States –  her mother came
from Vietnam, and her paternal grandfather from China. Reflecting on these journeys
and the fortitude they demanded has helped her find the strength to face obstacles
throughout her life. When Ali first moved to New York City, for example, she had to
share a cramped apartment with six other people. Whenever she felt the need to
complain, however, she reflected on the story of her grandfather’s lonely childhood.

At just eight years old, he had moved to Monterey, California, all by himself. There,
he made ends meet by working as a live-in cook and cleaner in the house of a
heartless family; though he was a hard worker, they didn’t even provide him with a
bed. Instead, he slept in their basement with only a sheet of newspaper beneath him.
Poverty followed him into his adult life, too. Unable to afford enough beds for his
family, he slept alongside his wife on the hard floor. 

Looking back at her grandfather’s life humbled Ali and helped her understand more
about herself and her character. It helped her see that, as for most people, the values
and personal attributes that defined her had been partially, if not entirely, shaped by
the things her family had passed down to her. That’s why, like her grandfather, she
was capable of getting through any situation. 

In that light, her miserable New York apartment was easy to manage – it was just a
matter of staying focused and working hard until she was able to afford something
better. Thankfully, saving money was something else that she had learned from her
Asian immigrant parents. 

Another thing they taught her was to become a huge factor in her professional
success: the ability to deal with criticism. Having been mercilessly teased by her
family her entire life, Ali was well prepared for all the bombing she would have to do
on the way to becoming a successful comedian. That’s the beauty of the wisdom we
glean from family – it becomes a giant toolbox that we can reach into all our lives,
whether or not we realize it.