I Just Watched Michelle’s Becoming on Netflix and I Was Truly Inspired
An ode to one of the finest First Ladies
If you haven’t yet watched this wonderful documentary, I implore you to go watch it right now! I have always wondered what makes Michelle Obama a global role model. How did she go from being the First Lady of the United States to a universal beacon of hope? Why is she so admired and adored all over the world? What makes her so likable and endearing? How does she always have such a charming smile on her face? Why do crowds erupt in a rapturous cheer when they see her? Why do people’s eyes well up when they listen to her speak? This documentary provides answers to most of these questions.
“Cry your eyes out. You don’t have to keep it together”
Michelle says this to her Chief of Staff, Melisa Winter when she experiences a sudden bout of emotions. I don’t know about you but I crave to hear this from people. All our lives, we are told to regulate our emotions and to keep them in check. We are told to compartmentalize our grief and to not reveal our weak, fragile and, insecure side to the outside world. But Michelle encouraged Melissa to not suppress her emotions and to bravely embrace her vulnerability. In fact, taking the bold step to bare yourself in front of others is an act of braveness in itself. Ironically, acknowledging your weaker side eventually makes you stronger. Irrespective of what people say, I do not shy away from exposing my vulnerable self and the practice actually helps me gain self-awareness and provides me an opportunity for self-introspection. To watch Michelle echo the same thoughts made me respect and adore her even more.
“Every gesture you make, every blink of an eye is being analyzed. Your life isn’t yours anymore.”
What a powerful statement. I don’t think we realize how tough and mentally draining it is to be a public figure. Their every action and movement is being tracked and scrutinized by judgmental and suspicious eyes. One tiny lapse and the media don’t spare them. Listening to Michelle talk about how “liberating and relaxing” it felt to finally leave the White House buttresses this point. She spoke about the joy of transitioning back to her normal life and how she can live for herself again. I think these statements of hers highlight the fact that deep down, she is your hometown girl. Maybe that’s the reason we connect to her so strongly. Despite being a former First Lady, she is pretty much normal like the rest of us. The fame, power, and money haven’t gone to her head and she is extremely humble and down-to-earth. Who doesn’t love a person like that?
“An emotional, sociological dance with people”
That’s what she called her jovial interactions with the people who came to her book signing. Such a beautiful phrase. It was especially heartening to see young girls brimming with absolute joy with a bright and unmistakable twinkle in their eyes at the mere sight of Michelle. They were genuinely flushed and overjoyed. It was evident that they idolized Michelle. And why won’t they? Every word they spoke, Michelle listened and understood. She looked them in the eye, unmindful of her surroundings, and gave them her complete attention. She absorbed their stories in their raw, unstructured form. She accorded them importance and made them feel loved and valued. A few older women broke down, overwhelmed by Michelle’s breathtaking presence. I welled up too, just watching the scene on my laptop screen.
“You have got to find the tools within yourself to be visible, to be heard, and to use your voice. Don’t wait for the world to be equal. That may never happen.”
This was in response to a question posed to her by a woman who asked how she was able to emerge out of the cloak of invisibility that had enveloped African-Americans for generations. Michelle underscored the strong belief she had in herself. This was a woman who charted her own life course, drafted her own rules, and invigorated her inner, dormant qualities to branch out of the vicious circle that African Americans were caught in. Michelle drives home a very important lesson here. We keep waiting for the world around us to change for the better, for society to become fairer, and for people to become unbiased. But that hardly happens. It’s far more effective to empower ourselves and to carve our own place in society. Acceptance and a sense of belonging will automatically follow.
“I knew he was a Tsunami coming after me and if I didn’t get my act together, I would be swept up.”
No prizes for guessing who Michelle is talking about here. Her husband Barrack of course. There was a very interesting narrative in the documentary about her not wanting to be an appendage to her husband’s dreams, but to have her own complete act. This is a progressive and a self-actualizing thought. Michelle knew that it was not easy to compete with a highly opinionated man like her husband, who on top of that, was the President of the United States. She was bound to lose her individual identity and presence had she not harbored the desire to be his equal. Not a notch below or above him. Just his equal. And this is the reason why her speeches draw huge crowds as well. This is the reason why she has been so successful in carving her own powerful niche and imprinting herself on the world’s collective conscience. Michelle also spoke about prioritizing ourselves and to find happiness from within. We are responsible for our own happiness and it should never be outsourced to others.
In conclusion
Michelle Obama is an empathetic people’s person who has a calming and inspiring presence. She is witty and knows how to lace her comments with the right dose of humor. Her intentions are pure and most importantly, she never forgets her roots.
Her closing thoughts at the end of her book tour were: “If we can open up a little bit more to each other and share our stories, our real stories, that’s what breaks down barriers. But in order to do that, you have to believe that your story has value. Be vulnerable. Dare to be vulnerable.” I love this.
The biggest takeaway I took from this documentary was this: We cannot all become First Ladies but we can definitely become strong and independent ladies who take charge of our own destinies.
