Lessons from Becoming (A book by Michelle Obama)
First of all, I must say Becoming was beautifully written….A 438 pages book that kept my eyes glued to the screen to the very end, ok, my review is not in any way needed, so let’s get down to the lessons
- “One of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child is — What do you want to be when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you become something and that’s the end.” This is profound, complete. Growth is not a bus stop, it’s never a destination. It is a never-ending journey.
One of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child is — What do you want to be when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you become something and that’s the end..
2. There’s no such thing as ‘Luck’. Reading through Becoming Us(Part two) which centre mostly on Barrack Obama made me realize he is a man who has spent a good portion of his life READING, SERVING HIS COMMUNITY…he was doing all these not because he wanted to create a good profile to meet the standard of a presidential candidate or whatever, he was just living.
Barack Obama had a great ‘CV’ by the time he was going into politics. The content of which was not ‘Ability to work under pressure’….he has lived a life that has prepared him for the new task.
You see, luck is an illusion created by mediocres to soothe themselves of pain when others are living and getting results…
3. They were two ‘complete’ individual before marriage. If there was no Obama, there would still have been a ‘very’ fulfilled Michelle and vice versa. Obama didn’t make Michelle and she didn’t make Obama too. She was before he came. And when they both ‘became’, they made each other……..So, they were that beautiful solo and perfect duet…
4. If you see people who are living the life you’re struggling to attain or people who have navigated through the path you’re struggling with, reach out to them. These could be through reading their books. When Michelle was struggling with her ‘purpose’, she reached out to Susan, the person who directed her to Valerie. Valerie was a lawyer but was not practising (a life she wanted) She helped her withadvice and later on in her journey in life, she played a significant role in their (Her family) life.
5. It is not about money. Your passion might not be what gives a very high monetary reward but still chase it anyway. For Michelle to be a fulfilled individual, she had to quit practising law and settle for jobs later in her life that doesn’t pay close to what she was earning before but she was fulfilled. She was living. Truly living. Reaching out to people. Touching lives. Touching hearts
6. You don’t need a ‘big’ platform before you can make a difference. As a matter of fact, if you can’t help when there are little people around to chant your praises, you will be of little or no good when you’re given a big platform.
Barrack and Michelle touch lives in their small community. No, they weren’t campaigning. They weren’t patronizing. They weren’t preparing a profile for a later. They were just living.
7. No matter what you do or how you live, you’ll still be hurting someone. Yeah, the more some people find you so appealing, the more some will find your acts repulsive. It’s some uncertainty Principle. You can’t win all. Don’t just stop living. Doing you. Don’t try to please all. Just live. Live
8. No matter how powerful you become in life, don’t forget your root/your friends. Still find a way to reach out, keep them close. In the end, they’re a big part of your life and your team, your association are a huge people part of your life. Don’t take them for granted
9. No matter how much you try to be of service to humanity, don’t lose one of the greatest treasure — Family. I don’t know if I’ll be getting this lesson wrong but ‘your family comes first
10. No matter what you do, always find time to breathe. At times, the best thing you can do is to be selfish. While you’re living your life, ensure you’re taking out time to breathe.
11. I am good enough. You’re good enough. We’re good enough
Ok, I could go on and on but because ‘time is going’ ’ll stop there. Becoming is a great book, a book everybody should read. I recommend!
