Esas cosas no se pueden medir ni pesar. No puedes decir: esta cantidad de amor equivale a esta cantidad de sufrimiento. No son opuestos que se cancel… - Sonia Sotomayor

Gee, Officer Krupke, I thought, how do I explain? Shall I talk about my ancestors, the heritage of Spain? About having two languages, two ways of seeing the world? Is there only one culture that counts? I didn’t even know where to begin answering that one.

There are uses to adversity, and they don’t reveal themselves until tested. Whether it’s serious illness, financial hardship, or the simple constraint of parents who speak limited English, difficulty can tap unsuspected strengths. It doesn’t always, of course: I’ve seen life beat people down until they can’t get up. But I have never had to face anything that could overwhelm the native optimism and stubborn perseverance I was blessed with.

I have followed my mother’s approach to family, refusing to limit myself to accidents of birth, blood, and marriage