What was that about ending 2018 on a high...
8am, on a cold November "to early for me" morning, I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed, threw on whatever and a bomber jacket I would later come to regret wearing and hurriedly made my way to the Southbank Centre to join the queue of determined people hoping to bag a ticket to see Michelle Obama discuss her new book, Becoming.
Three hours later, despite being #14343 in the online booking queue, I was lucky enough to bag two tickets. Buzzing.
Not only was this my first time seeing and being in the same room as her, but also my first live encounter with the amazing novelist Chimamanda Adichie - and they were EVERYTHING.
Like so many people I've been fascinated, inspired and proud even, from across the pond, of the first black family to be elected into the White House Office and serve not one but two Presidential terms. But the night wasn't limited to that one experience. Chimamanda led the conversation to cover her values on education, her accomplishments, motherhood, her navigation in womanhood, marriage and being a black woman in the public eye - it was all about her journey becoming Michelle.
She shared openly about her childhood, how as a young girl her outspoken voice was nurtured and encouraged rather than doused by her parents. It was easy to discern from the way she spoke devotedly about her upbringing, how close her family unit was. You couldn't help but tear up as she discussed the untimely death of her father, who battled life with Multiple Sclerosis but never let it be an excuse for him not to work and do all he could to lovingly provide for his family.
I couldn't help but draw similarities in that moment with my own Mum, who I feel works so tirelessly, that taking a sick day is virtually a foreign concept to her.
The bumps I've encountered in my own personal journey of becoming were comforted when I learned how Michelle went through a period of feeling despondent when she realised being a lawyer wasn't for her and wasn't sure what she wanted to do. I was surprised by her candour, sharing how she took herself to task to work on the area's she felt lacking through journalling, and not being ashamed to go to therapy for her marriage.
The conversation flowed so naturally between the two women who apparently have been admirers of each others work from afar but only meeting for the first time on the Southbank stage.
Towards the end of the interview Chimamanda asked "What advice would you give to women trying to navigate life" and then changed it to specifically black women. I was so appreciative of that and of Michelle for not addressing a collective in that moment but focusing her message to women who look like her, to black women she means so much to. I admired her being honest about the pain she felt at being reduced to a caricature by the media, how the same things she was mocked for where praised in white bodies - swag, style and even down to the very words she speaks.*clears throat - Melania's Republican Convention speech - cough cough* but instead of being beaten by these negative projections, she developed a thick skin and stayed true to who she was, remembering her worth - changing for no-one.
I could go on and on and on but instead here are 5 key points I came away with:
ON "IMPOSTER SYNDROME"
1. Stop questioning your seat at the table, you belong just as much as anyone else.
"I've been at every powerful table you can think of...they are not that smart"
ON SELF-BELIEF
2. Understand your worth and celebrate your strengths.
"Start by getting those demons out of your head!"
ON THE COMPANY YOU KEEP
3. Separate yourself, unapologetically, from people who don't add value to your life or fill you up.
ON DOING THE WORK
4. You have to love who you are and if not, be working towards it.
Value your own voice, nurture it in every phase of your life. Don't lose it.
ON TRUSTING THE JOURNEY
5. Becoming is about striving to be the best version of yourself, its a never ending process...
I feel so honoured to have been able to soak up so much life lessons from two incredibly knowledgable women, mum and I had the BEST time and we couldn't stop talking about the night. I seriously cannot wait to learn more about this women through her book, it just jumped right to the top of my reading list! Side note: doesn't she look just stunning on the cover!
Like so many people I've been fascinated, inspired and proud even, from across the pond, of the first black family to be elected into the White House Office and serve not one but two Presidential terms. But the night wasn't limited to that one experience. Chimamanda led the conversation to cover her values on education, her accomplishments, motherhood, her navigation in womanhood, marriage and being a black woman in the public eye - it was all about her journey becoming Michelle.
I couldn't help but draw similarities in that moment with my own Mum, who I feel works so tirelessly, that taking a sick day is virtually a foreign concept to her.
The bumps I've encountered in my own personal journey of becoming were comforted when I learned how Michelle went through a period of feeling despondent when she realised being a lawyer wasn't for her and wasn't sure what she wanted to do. I was surprised by her candour, sharing how she took herself to task to work on the area's she felt lacking through journalling, and not being ashamed to go to therapy for her marriage.
The conversation flowed so naturally between the two women who apparently have been admirers of each others work from afar but only meeting for the first time on the Southbank stage.
Towards the end of the interview Chimamanda asked "What advice would you give to women trying to navigate life" and then changed it to specifically black women. I was so appreciative of that and of Michelle for not addressing a collective in that moment but focusing her message to women who look like her, to black women she means so much to. I admired her being honest about the pain she felt at being reduced to a caricature by the media, how the same things she was mocked for where praised in white bodies - swag, style and even down to the very words she speaks.
I could go on and on and on but instead here are 5 key points I came away with:
ON "IMPOSTER SYNDROME"
1. Stop questioning your seat at the table, you belong just as much as anyone else.
"I've been at every powerful table you can think of...they are not that smart"
ON SELF-BELIEF
2. Understand your worth and celebrate your strengths.
"Start by getting those demons out of your head!"
ON THE COMPANY YOU KEEP
3. Separate yourself, unapologetically, from people who don't add value to your life or fill you up.
ON DOING THE WORK
4. You have to love who you are and if not, be working towards it.
Value your own voice, nurture it in every phase of your life. Don't lose it.
ON TRUSTING THE JOURNEY
5. Becoming is about striving to be the best version of yourself, its a never ending process...
are you an michelle obama fan? have you read/planning on reading her book?
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