The new U.S. ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle, shares unknown moments from her life in her autobiography, which has just been released in Greek by Kaktos Publications.
Protothema.gr publishes two more excerpts from her book “Win Every Battle: How to Stand Up for Yourself.”
In one excerpt, Guilfoyle discusses the importance of dressing appropriately, explaining that her clothing choices were always intentional in conveying a message.
“I kept my appearance simple and polished because I didn’t want to alienate anyone or distract them from the message I was trying to convey. I was the guide, not the attraction,” she writes. She even reveals her personal motto, which for a time was printed on a T-shirt she wore regularly.
In the second excerpt, Guilfoyle reflects on her two divorces, expressing gratitude for the cooperative co-parenting relationship she maintained with her son’s father.
“It saddens me how often ego and arrogance get in the way of this process for some families. This kind of behavior is truly harmful and dangerous for children,” she writes.
Excerpt 1: Proper Attire
“When I was in high school, I worked at a Clothestime store so I could build up my wardrobe and save money for college. I saw people fall in love with a piece of clothing because they felt it reflected their personality. Sometimes they bought the same item in different colors or came back for a similar one when the first wore out. I was no different. I had a favorite T-shirt I wore every day because it supported one of my core principles. Across the chest it read ‘I plan,’ then beneath that was the article ‘the,’ and finally the word ‘future.’ Of course, ‘I plan the future’ became—and still is—my motto. I couldn’t stop wearing that shirt. I’d rush to pull it out of the laundry as soon as the wash finished. I wish I could wear it even now. I’ve always been the type of person to ask: ‘What’s my next challenge? How do I overtake? How do I score the goal?’ That shirt said it all.”
“I realized how important that message was when I became a prosecutor and had to dress for court. From that early training, I knew how to conduct myself. Every time I tried a case, I wore a clean, well-tailored but modest suit. I’d tie my hair back in a French twist so it wouldn’t fall in my face, and I wore minimal or no makeup and very little jewelry, if any. I never wore anything bold, low-rise, or too short. I kept my appearance simple and polished because I didn’t want to alienate anyone or distract them from the message I was trying to convey. I was the guide, not the attraction. I wanted everyone present to know that I respected the court system.”
Excerpt 2: Making Divorce Easier for Everyone Involved
“I’m glad both of my divorces were amicable, but I’m truly grateful that when my son’s father and I separated, we committed to doing whatever we could to ensure our son would continue to feel happy and secure. We wanted him to know he was loved. That’s why we pursued equal co-parenting from the beginning. We recognized how important it was for our little boy to benefit from the unique strengths each of us brought to our relationship with him.”
“It saddens me to see how often ego and arrogance get in the way of this process for some families. That kind of behavior is truly harmful and dangerous for children. I understand how traumatic divorce can be, but except in cases where a child’s safety is genuinely at risk, God should not allow any child to suffer just because their parents can no longer live together or act like adults when they meet.”
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