I was reminded tonight why I am so committed to spiritual, mental, emotional, physical and relational health.
I, along with some of you I’m sure, watched Michelle Obama speak at the first night of the Democratic National Convention. She told a story about when her and Obama first met and she accompanied him to a community meeting in Chicago. She said that he shared some things at that meeting that she never forgot.
That night, over ten years ago, Obama talked about the fact that there is the reality about how things are, and the ideal of how they could be. He reminded the people at the meeting to always do their best to achieve the ideal and never to settle for less.
I have received some criticism over the years for always pointing out the difference between what is verses the ideal or healthy alternative. The crisp vision between the two has been both a blessing and a curse for me. Bosses, partners and friends would sometimes prefer to live in status quo – something I can’t seem to do, unless, of course, the status quo is optimally healthy.
Tonight I feel encouraged that someone I admire as much as Barack Obama is fueled by a similar motivation: closing the gap between mediocrity and potential.