Our brother's & sister's keepers

The always lovely Michelle Obama released her podcast this week.

And of course, the first episode was a home run — featuring her husband: Barack Obama.

It was fascinating to hear their tender and lively chat. What struck me was a guiding principle for them throughout their life — from community organizing to country management.

“We don’t just look out for us, but for all. We are our brother & sister’s keepers.”

Reflecting on her own childhood, Michelle mentioned how neighbors watched over the little ones — and through that, the whole ‘village’ played a huge part in lifting the whole community up.

And it made me muse over the current state of affairs: how “inward’ we’ve grown. More of us are looking after ourselves. Hostility to “others” feels so woven into our fabric. And our leaders aren’t helping: stroking the flames of dissent and marketing “separateness” broadly — where they should be marketing '“togetherness”.

But listening to both of their brimming optimism, you can feel the light in the room. Our newest generation can take a renewed mantle of looking after each other. This is a messy process, but we can do it.

Michelle said it beautifully: I see you, and I celebrate you. More “we-ness”.