THE LIGHT WE CARRY

 I am a fan of women who have contributed to making a change in society. Michelle Obama was the first woman of colour to become the first lady of the United States of America. She carried out her duties gracefully. I enjoyed her first book “Becoming”. It was a small glimpse into her childhood, adult life, college, meeting Barak, having kids and the election campaign, and finally settling in the White House. I came across her other book "The Light We Carry" in the library and grabbed it excitedly. I read it in less than a month with my full-time job and a toddler at home. It was indeed a very good read.

She touched on the Covid-19 Pandmic. The times of fear and uncertainty and of course lockdown. I was fascinated when Michelle pointed out her knitting journey to battle with stress. “ I am not sure if I would have gotten there without the period of enforced stillness and the steadiness I found inside of knitting. I’d have to go small to think big again. Shaken by the enormity of everything that was happening, I needed my hands to reintroduce me to what was good, simple, and accomplishable. And that turned out to be a lot."

She spoke about her daughters growing up and being independent and the proud feeling every parent has when visiting their children’s house. Seeing their different behaviour compared to the times they stayed with their parents. Also looking at the new generation dating. Addressing the fear she experienced when Barak wanted to run for president, she didn’t want to stop him, knowing she might regret that decision. “How will you meet your soul mate if you don’t go on that date? How will you get ahead if you don’t take that new job, or move to a new city? How will you learn to grow if fear stops you from leaving home to go to college?

She spoke about her mother’s vital role, supporting her young daughters while Michelle and Barak were busy with their day-to-day duties in the white house. Her mother stayed with them for the whole 8 years. She spoke about herself being very self-aware of her physical difference from the other girls her age. Reading this part made me feel better about myself.

I'm tall and that’s a good thing

I'm a woman and that’s a good thing.

I'm black and that’s a good thing.

I am myself and that is a very good thing.

 

She spoke about her political motto of going high. “ When people ask me about going high, I explain that for me, it's about doing what it takes to make your work count and your voice heard, despite the despites. It helps if you're able to stay agile and adapt to change as it comes. And all of that becomes more possible, I've found when you are ready and practiced with a full range of tools. Getting high is not about what happens on a single day or month or outside one election cycle either. It happens over the course of a lifetime, the course of a generation.”