Friday, December 21, 2012

Mele Kalikimaka Mr. President!

Its been a tough week for all of us - no one more so than our President. As I've watched him battle the tears over the loss of our babies only to have to switch gears to take on the lunatic fringe in Congress, I've been spending some time thinking about how grateful I am that he is willing to represent us by taking this all on. I can't imagine another human being I'd rather have in the White House at this moment in history.

And so, with the press conference completed, he'll be heading off to Hawaii for a much-deserved break (I hope!) I have nothing more to give him as a token of my gratitude than to wish him "Mele Kalikimaka."



Oh, and one more thing...

I'd like to once again repeat something Alice Walker wrote to President Obama shortly after he was elected.
I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate. One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of almost everyone...

Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.

6 comments:

  1. Hi SP, you share the 'nicest' things. I don't remember reading that Alice Walker letter segment before, and I don't know who she is, but I certainly appreciate you sharing it again. THANKS! The President's smile is still 4+ years later finding an answering smile in many, if not most, of us.

    In case I get all caught up (doing nothing much, really, have a wonderful Christmas/Holiday!

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    1. Wishing you the BEST Christmas/Holiday too VC!

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    2. p.s. Alice Walker is perhaps best known for being the author of the book "The Color Purple."

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  2. What beautiful sentiments, Smartypants. President Obama truly is a remarkable human being, and a wonder to behold.

    Have a Merry Christmas, and a very happy New Year!

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  3. Wonderful tribute SmartyPants!

    I hope the President reads and remembers often this most important admonition from Alice Walker.

    So much of what draws so many of us the world over to this President, is the beautiful and inspiring love he and the First Lady share. They complete each other in the most truest sense of that expression and neither of them would be where they are today - as incredibly extraordinary, inspiring and iconic figures - without the other.

    We absolutely love the way they love, respect and look out for each other! And we particularly love the powerful passion they embody and feel for each other and the beautiful intimacy they share - even in the midst of all the never ending hostility, loss of privacy and all that's been thrown at them since they became our President and First Lady.

    We love and pray for God's continued grace, abundant blessings, guidance and protection upon them and their lovely daughters.

    May their love for each other remain intact, growing even deeper and stronger with each passing day and may nothing ever come between them. They remain each others magic - the singular most powerful ingredient in the final product the world sees and is endlessly drawn to.

    May this short break away from the madness that is D.C, provide them the opportunity to relax, rejuvenate and most importantly, reconnect with each other.

    Aloha!

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    Replies
    1. Indeed. They remain each other's greatest asset; without one the other is greatly diminished. Like a pair of amazing diamond earrings.

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