Everyone has a tough week once in a while, and this includes Hillary Clinton—who may have had the toughest week of any of us. In her first public speech since conceding to Donald Trump at the end of the 2016 presidential election, Clinton said at a Washington D.C. charity gala, “There have been a few times this past week when all I wanted to do is just to curl up with a good book or our dogs and never leave the house again.”
Although sharing her own disappointment only makes Clinton seem more human, the point of her speech was far from self-pity. Being honored by the Children’s Defense Fund for her years of service, Clinton used the opportunity to share inspirational words and talk about her late mother’s influence, NBC News reports.
“I dream of going up to her…and taking her in my arms and saying, ‘Look, look at me, and listen,’” Clinton said. “’You will survive…And as hard as it might be to imagine, your daughter will grow up to be a United States Senator, represent our country as Secretary of State and win more than 62 million votes for president of the United States.’”
She also had a few words of advice for those feeling down since Trump’s presidential win. “America is worth it. Our children are worth it,” Clinton shared. “Believe in our country, fight for our values and never, ever give up. Service is the rent we pay for living. You don’t get to stop paying rent just because things didn’t go your way.”
If we needed any more motivation to make a kind of peace with election results and try to fight for what’s best, let Clinton’s speech be a sign.