Michelle Obama is a true role model. She is hardworking, honest, genuine, humble, gracious, loyal, empathetic, and optimistic. I value all of those traits and you are a fool if you don’t also value those things.

Michelle’s story is interesting and a true American Dream sort of story. She got lucky—a lot—but also worked incredibly hard for her education and managed to not be so exceptional as to be unrelatable (student loans and a baby made her reconsider work options, for example). I think that is a big part of her charm. She knows what it is like to be middle class, and she isn’t afraid to own up to her middle-class blunders.

Funny anecdotes about the family were sprinkled throughout, along with true problems that Michelle had to internally set her resolve in order to overcome. There were lots of stories about what it’s really like to live in the White House, the logistics of it all. I found those parts to be the most fascinating—who hasn’t wondered about how all of that works?

There are two things that Michelle made me want to think about:
1. Legacy. Every decision Michelle and Barak have made ever since being a young couple has been framed around the questions of “Is this in line with our values as a couple? Will this move us towards the world we want to live in?” And they thought strategically about life decisions.
2. Connecting with people. Michelle always finds ways to connect with people who it seems that she would have nothing in common with. But it involves being your true, genuine self and being fully present. How hard that must be when you go from a funeral for murdered children to a diplomats’ ball in a matter of hours... but we all need to practice this skill of using our whole selves to be present for those around us.

Oh and btw, she made it loud and clear that she hates politics, always has, and will not be running for office.