I’ve been getting some real inspiration and food for thought from the Obamas recently. Yeah, you guessed, it was all sparked from Michelle’s speech and several other speeches at the just concluded DNC.
The way she stood tall, elegant and graceful all at once, with those beautiful nails and with determined passion, and spoke for her husband; moving us to tears and making us want to cast our votes and almost devote our lives to him. Even if those words were scripted, the passion in her heart came shining through – undeniably. She started her husband up on the path of victory.
The question I asked myself was what if I (just as I am today) was Michelle Obama? Would I take the stand and boldly declare my unflinching support for my husband or would I shrink back in timidity and say, ‘No I can’t face that crowd, let someone else do it, everyone will be looking, I may bumble and stumble, maybe Hilary Clinton do it.’
It sounds inconceivable right now, given the context, after all she’s the president’s wife but think about it for just a miniute and imagine yourself as Michelle right now, standing in front of that crowd! It’s amazing how we limit ourselves just because we won’t be bold!
That aside, what got me thinking even more today was the story of Scott Van Duzer, a 46 year old pizza shop owner in Florida. President Obama was on a bus tour and made an unannounced stop at Mr. Duzer’s pizza shop. You wouldn’t believe what Mr. Duzer did! He engulfed the President in a big bear hug and proceeded to lift him up off the ground!
Absolutely amazing stuff! Who hugs the President and lifts him up off the floor? Well, you can see the video for yourself here.
Now I couldn’t get over this. Yeah I know, some are introverts and some are extroverts, some have larger than life personas and some just smile quietly and light up the room. I couldn’t help but think though that what got into this guy’s head? Nothing clearly. He acted out of his excitement and passion in that moment because if he thought about it for one second, he couldn’t have done it. It’s the President of the United States! Secret Service agents are crawling all over, an FBI, MI6 or CIA sniper is probably in position in some building across the street! I am so sure Van Duzer didn’t think through that situation, he just followed his heart in that moment.
Now he stands out, because the President has made many unannounced stops at pizza parlors and ice cream shops and people just control their excitement and fold their hands behind their backs. This is one visit Mr. President won’t forget in a hurry!
Have you ever stopped to think how much our brain stops us? You see that friend and want to give them a big bear hug but then you think, ‘is it appropriate?’ ‘is it the right weather?’ ‘does he/she like being hugged?’ and there goes the hug, outside the window!
I’m making a case for spontaneous, ‘Be free Oh™’ living! Sometimes, our rational thinking is our worst enemy.
Have a fab week!
I dont know how I am always the first to leave a comment (well, sometimes) in places but I was just a second before my phone beeped incoming mail, thinking that I havent heard a peep from Pinktapestry!!!
And that you took this post from this perspective is completely amazing and awesome to me!!
This morning again I heard somethng about passion, and this afternoon I am reading Africa Forbes and I stumble on ‘dont think about it, just do it,’ by Stephen Saad, a ‘Millionaire Medicine Man’ from South |Africa…let me not blog my post here. But this pizza guy has made histroy…he has made history by being so spontaneous and ‘just doing it.’ A word is enough…
Lol! Thanks for always being the first to leave a comment jare.
All that repetition of the same theme is for sure for emphasis!