This month’s Recommended Read is Michelle Obama’s candid Autobiography ‘Becoming’.
Through Michelle’s lens you get to walk through her life and the tightrope of some fundamental sustainability topics.
She shares a deeply personal account of growing up in poverty in the Southside of Chicago, living with a disabled father and in a divided neighbourhood.
She eloquently walks you through her journey through Princeton University and Harvard University, in a world not designed for her and then an extraordinary course she takes with her husband into the White House.
Michelle discusses key sustainability topics:
🔶️ Young people
🔶️ Education for girls
🔶️ Poverty
🔶️ Race relations
🔶️ Equality
🔶️ Working mothers
🔶️ Sense of service to others
Here’s two poignant snippets from Michelle Obama’s Autobiography:
“Do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be?”
“There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there’s grace in being willing to know and hear others. This, for me, is how we become.”
I have great admiration and respect for Michelle and her straight up, just saying ‘how it is’ attitude.
She is not only funny, eloquent, highly educated but carried herself 8 years in the White House flawlessly and continues to advocate on key sustainability topics such as equality and education for girls.
For many younger people especially girls growing up she is an inspiration, a role model (…a role model I wish I had growing up).
As you read through the pages there is a feeling Michelle is taking a deep breathe and talking directly with you as part of a sit down chat between good friends.
When I think of Michelle’s journey and more recent work there is a deep sense of duty, reliance, respect, empathy and service to others. These are fundamental concepts our society needs if we are to move to a sustainable future.
