The former First Lady opens up about her family's financial issues during her childhood and advises her younger self to embrace it in an emotional letter.
- Dec 12, 2018
AceShowbiz - Michelle Obama battled self-doubt and low self-esteem when she was young. The former First Lady wrote an emotional letter for a new "Note to Self" segment of CBS News, unraveling her family's financial issues as well as offering encouraging words to her college-age self who was off to Princeton University.
In an episode aired on Tuesday, December 11, the "Becoming" author began her letter with assurance. "Dear Miche, there you are, in your jean jacket and braids, a long way from that little apartment on the South Side of Chicago," she read as an image of her younger self in a denim jacket and a red shirt appears on the video. "You're at one of the finest universities in the world. You're smiling, and you should be, you worked hard for this."
"But even now, after you reached your goal, you're still not quite sure if you belong and can't get one question out of your mind: 'Am I good enough?' " the wife of former President Barrack Obama continued to address her self-doubt issues. "There aren't many kids here who look like you. Some arrived on campus in limousines. One of your classmates is a bona fide movie star, another is rumored to be a real-life princess. Meanwhile, you got dropped off by your father in the family sedan."
"Years from now, you'll learn that your parents had to take out new credit cards to pay your tuition. But Michelle, what you'll come to realize one day is that you're only seeing what you lack and not everything that your story has given you," she continued.
The 54-year-old went on to point out that she was blessed with "deep, anchoring" love and encouragement to develop her own voice. She also told her younger self to cherish the moment she had with her father. "Your father's final lesson will come far too soon," she warned. "He'll teach you that life is fleeting. So laugh with him until your side hurts. Savor the grip of his hugs, the softness in his eyes."
In the letter, Michelle also noted that the death of her father would hit her like hard and would cause her to rethink everything about herself and her future. Nonetheless, she reassured her younger self that she would open her heart to another man. "He's driven by a hopeful set of ideals. He's grounded and kind and absolutely brilliant. And he's pretty good looking, too. I thought you'd appreciate that. His certainty about his path will feel like a challenge to yours," she elaborated.
The mother of Malia Obama and Natasha Obama continued to advise her younger self about relationship struggles. "You'll learn that even the best relationships take work but that's okay, that's normal and it's what gives your partnership its strength," she said. "Together, you'll be blessed with two perfect little girls who will fill you with so much joy you can barely process it. Yet you'll still struggle to find a balance between your family, your husband's rising career, and your own sense of self. Be patient."
Michelle also prepared her younger self to the difficulties she would face after her husband rose into presidency. "You'll be attacked by people who've never met you and don't really care to. They'll try to harm you for their own gain. Don't stoop to their level, no matter how gratifying it might feel in the moment," she counseled. "Hold tight to those values your parents taught you."
She went on to remind her younger self to stay humble despite her popularity. "Your family will make history, breaking barriers and filling out a more complete picture of the American story. You'll meet two popes and the Queen of England. People will fill stadiums to hear you speak," she noted. "It will be easy to think you're something special. Just remember that there are millions of people who grew up like you did and don't get this kind of spotlight. Reflect the light back on them."
"There are so many people out there like you, Miche. Black girls and minorities of all kinds, working-class kids from big cities and small towns, people who doubt themselves, who are uncertain about whether they belong but have so much to offer the world. Share your story with them, the struggles and the triumphs and everything else. Show them that there's more beauty inside than they can see right now," she continued. "That's how you'll answer that question that's following you around, the one that sometimes keeps you up at night."
Concluding the letter, Michelle once again assured her younger self, "You're more than enough, Miche. You always have been and you always will be. And I can't wait for you to see that."
