--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By 30, I was separated from my husband…" description: "\"By 30, I was separated from my husband, and I clearly remember sitting in my lovely office with a magnificent view, staring at a very lucrative pay stu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/valerie-jarrett-2933_decision_by-30-i-was-separated-from-my-husband-an_2357806.png" --- # By 30, I was separated from my husband, and I clearly… ![“By 30, I was separated from my husband, and I clearly remember sitting in my lovely office with a magnificent view, staring at a very lucrative pay stub, and bursting into tears because I was just miserable. So I had to make a decision: Keep following my plan, or be honest with myself and search…” quote by Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/valerie-jarrett-2933_decision_by-30-i-was-separated-from-my-husband-an_2357806.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/valerie-jarrett-2933_decision_by-30-i-was-separated-from-my-husband-an_2357806.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/valerie-jarrett-2933_decision_by-30-i-was-separated-from-my-husband-an_2357806.png) > “By 30, I was separated from my husband, and I clearly remember sitting in my lovely office with a magnificent view, staring at a very lucrative pay stub, and bursting into tears because I was just miserable. So I had to make a decision: Keep following my plan, or be honest with myself and search for my true passion.” [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A successful external role couldn't hide inner unhappiness; true fulfillment requires aligning work with passion **In simple terms:** Success without joy is hollow; follow your passion Key Takeaway Choose authenticity over external rewards Themes career dissatisfaction self discovery values alignment Mood sad reflective Type personal narrative motivational When to use this quote - career planning - therapy - coaching - mindfulness - financial planning Key Concepts existential crisis career transition personal authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What does true success mean to you? - How can you identify your genuine passion? A Different Perspective External success may mask deeper dissatisfaction ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [True passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-passion/) ## Related quotes > [When I look at my life and its secret colours, I feel like bursting into tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/when-i-look-at-my-life-and-its-secret-colours-i-feel-like-bursting/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > ['The Joy Luck Club' is not a perfect film. 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I felt like instantly bursting into tears and running out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/i-used-to-have-the-most-visceral-response-to-having-my-photo-taken-i/) [Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/) > [When I look at my life and its secret colors, I feel like bursting into tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/when-i-look-at-my-life-and-its-secret-colors-i-feel-like-bursting/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Married in 1983, separated in 1987, and divorced in 1988. Enough said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/married-in-1983-separated-in-1987-and-divorced-in-1988-enough-said/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [“Look at that ship. That clipper cost me a queen’s ransom, even with the Kestrel thrown in the bargain. But it was the fastest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/look-at-that-ship-that-clipper-cost-me-a-queen-s-ransom-even-with-the/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“The problem of society today: An absolute lifestyle of entitlement. People gauge everything by "feeling", meaning whatever they feel like doing or whatever they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/the-problem-of-society-today-an-absolute-lifestyle-of-entitlement/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [I'd love to be a consultant and help design an offense. That's my true passion, and I want to find an outlet where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-warner/i-d-love-to-be-a-consultant-and-help-design-an-offense-that-s-my-true/) [Kurt Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-warner/) > [“What is hope? Is it the ambition of discovering for the first time what the carnal definition of physical love is without understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-rusilko/what-is-hope-is-it-the-ambition-of-discovering-for-the-first-time/) [Ivan Rusilko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-rusilko/) > [“Don’t let society’s labels hold you back. If you have a true passion for something whether its sports, art, science, etc…don’t believe anyone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-g-bailey/don-t-let-society-s-labels-hold-you-back-if-you-have-a-true-passion/) [Alison G. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-g-bailey/) > [Songwriting is my true passion and that's what the BMI awards are all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rudolf/songwriting-is-my-true-passion-and-that-s-what-the-bmi-awards-are-all/) [Kevin Rudolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rudolf/) ## More by Valerie Jarrett > [I am an Iranian by birth and of my Islamic faith. I am also an American Citizen and I seek to help change America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-am-an-iranian-by-birth-and-of-my-islamic-faith-i-am-also-an/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [We have held forums here at the White House on workplace flexibility, and the first major bill signed into law by President Obama was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/we-have-held-forums-here-at-the-white-house-on-workplace-flexibility/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [Companies have told us that they have employees who are near retirement age. We created a $5 billion reinsurance pool to help them bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/companies-have-told-us-that-they-have-employees-who-are-near/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [Part of what makes America strong is our resilience, tenacity, innovation and our willingness to be optimistic about our future. I know that President…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/part-of-what-makes-america-strong-is-our-resilience-tenacity/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [I had my daughter when I was pretty young, 28, and I had to sacrifice not going out with my friends, and I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-had-my-daughter-when-i-was-pretty-young-28-and-i-had-to-sacrifice/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [Barack's mother was very important to him, but he spent a great deal of his life living in a different place. So, as all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/barack-s-mother-was-very-important-to-him-but-he-spent-a-great-deal/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [Encouraging the next generation is really where my heart is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/encouraging-the-next-generation-is-really-where-my-heart-is/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [I vividly remember early on in my career when I was eight months pregnant, working literally around the clock, and worrying that each trip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-vividly-remember-early-on-in-my-career-when-i-was-eight-months/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [I don't want to just tell my story - I want to share the experiences, life lessons, and values that have shaped who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-don-t-want-to-just-tell-my-story-i-want-to-share-the-experiences/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [If you are not diverse and you are not listening to all voices and have your ear to the ground, you're not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/if-you-are-not-diverse-and-you-are-not-listening-to-all-voices-and/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [We do have to ask ourselves as a culture, what do we want to be? You know, what are our founding values? And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/we-do-have-to-ask-ourselves-as-a-culture-what-do-we-want-to-be-you/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [We have to think creatively about changes that need to be made in the workplace to accommodate the growing demands on the work force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/we-have-to-think-creatively-about-changes-that-need-to-be-made-in-the/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [We don't want to get distracted by looking back; we need to move forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/we-don-t-want-to-get-distracted-by-looking-back-we-need-to-move/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [For me, the passions and issues I care so much about are ones that lend themselves to work whether you're in government or outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/for-me-the-passions-and-issues-i-care-so-much-about-are-ones-that/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [The tech community has taken the first step by recognizing that diversity is a strength and realizing that many of them have to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/the-tech-community-has-taken-the-first-step-by-recognizing-that/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) [Explore all 145 Valerie Jarrett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By 30, I was separated from my husband, and I clearly remember sitting in my lovely office with a magnificent view, staring at a very lucrative pay stub, and bursting into tears because I was just miserable. 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