Barack Obama: Real Maturity

President Obama Announces the Death of Osama Bin Laden by Jane Iddings. Blogger

 

 

We're just learning about the details of the military/CIA operation that resulted in the death of Osama Bin Laden.

What we do know is this: President Obama worked carefully, cautiously, and meticuously with his team to bring this about.

President Obama and his team deserve words of praise for their restraint, secrecy, and out-and-out cleverness.

This is the work of mature people. People who have the intellectual and emotional maturity to plan for and then implement this daring operation.

This won't be the end of terrorists attacks. But this is the end of a man equated with Hitler. The world isn't free of terrorism, but it is free of a truly evil man who caused enormous suffering of other human beings.

Thanks to President Obama and his team, as well as the U.S. military and CIA for bringing this era to an end.

And now let's get on with living.

 

 

 

 

 

President Obama "Incites" Education Reform by Jane Iddings, Blogger

President Obama honors the 2010 Best Teachers

During the last several decades, the once great American education system slid into mediocrity and failure in all too many states and school districts.

Now we have the hope and the opportunity for this to change.

David Brooks of The New York Times wrote a brilliant analysis of what the Obama Administration is doing about our failing education system. It isn't just handing out money. Instead, the Obama Administration with its program, "Race to the Top,"  "incites" reform by offering money to those states and school districts that meet strict guidelines for reform. Click here to read the article "Race to Sanity" published June 3, 2010 online.

And the results? Brooks says "Overall, there's been a tremendous amount of movement in a brief amount of time."

Once again, President Barack Obama is the right person at the right time to lead our country and the world.

The Obamas and the Veep

This picture was taken in May, 2010 by White House Photographer Peter Souza.

As I look at it, at a time when it seems like the wheels are coming off the trolley everywhere I look, it's reassuring, comforting, and just plain brings a smile to my face to see these three good people leading our country. 

Incidents all over the world and in our own backyard in the Gulf of Mexico remind us daily that we must have mature people at the helm. Certainly in recent times, mature leaders have been as scarce as hen's teeth (to use an old Idaho saying).

Even if these three fine folks don't always make the best decisions -- especially as seen in our rear view mirror -- we can be assured that they are bringing every ounce of their maturity, their wisdom, and their compassion to the table to make the best decisions they can under the circumstances.

Today and every day I am grateful for the Obamas and the Veep.

Book in the Oven by Jane Iddings, Blogger

Dear Readers,

This blog is temporarily suspended while I complete a book related to the topics discussed here. The book should be published by the summer of 2010.

Please check back!

President Obama's Inner Game of Work

    

W. Timothy Gallwey, who wrote the intriguing book "The Inner Game of Tennis," introduced the idea that the most important part of what we do takes place right in our own minds. It's the inner work that we do, the clarity we achieve, the focus and direction that we command of ourselves, that makes for success or not.

Gallwey was so successful with this revolutionary idea that he went on to create a whole body of work around the idea of the inner work we must do to succeed at any endeavor. He followed up the first book with "The Inner Game of Golf," "The Inner Game of Skiing," and then branched beyond sports to "The Inner Game of Music."

Another book was about "The Inner Game of Work," once again bringing the work we do, both in preparation and execution, to the inner realm.

What do you think President's Obama's inner game is like?

To me he is the perfect role model for someone whose inner life, whose inner processes, whoe inner work is well developed. We can see it (most of the time) in his quiet deliberations before he acts and speaks. Not always, the Gates' incident being a notable exception.

The inner work is the mental space we enter into to be quiet, to reflect on what we're doing, to hear our intuition, to act and speak in a considered, deliberate way.

I have the confidence that President Obama enters this mental space to consider the different options, to weigh them on the scales of fairness, to tactfully and respectfully address the issues and the people involved.

Professionally I am a mediator. I started thinking about this inner process and how it could apply to my work and in doing so I remembered the book "The Inner Game of Tennis." I hadn't read it because I'm not a tennis player, but I was curious about what Gallway had to say about the inner process. Lots it turns out.

No matter what we're doing, we can all benefit from moving into that mental space of using our minds and listening to our intuition.

What is your inner game?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Obamas' New York Date Night by Jane Iddings, Blogger

 

     First Couple: Brilliant, elegant and romantic!

 

 

 

 

On June 9th the New York Times online published a great column by Maureen Dowd: "Can The One Have Fun?" Click here to read it.

The answer? Yes, indeed.

Our Prez, the Mature One, keeps his priorities intact, president or not. He promised his wife a night in New York -- dinner and the theatre -- and he delivered.

What a great role model for romance and commitment -- for how to have a wonderful relationship. It doesn't hurt to have all the presidential "trimmings" that go along with his date night -- but then, he deserves it, they deserve it. They are giving so much to the country and to the world.

And I hope they have many more. What could be more fun than having this wonderful couple lead our country, to be the role models they are as a mature couple, as a mature family, as mature spouses, as mature parents -- not to mention as a mature President and mature First Lady.

Lovely indeed.

President Obama's Cairo Speech: A Perfect 10!

    Visionary Barack Obama

Today President Obama gave a major speech in Cairo. Today the world heard a visionary speak. A visionary who sees a peaceful world in which every human being counts, a peaceful world in which every human being is free.

Click here to listen to the speech.

Many were thrilled with the speech. Some who criticized it or were disappointed by it didn't realize they were hearing the "what" of the vision, not the "how" of the vision.

That is, first we must agree upon the "what" and President Obama told us how he sees the "what." The "how" -- the details, will follow. Not that the details aren't important. It's just that first we must agree on the "what" and we are far from doing that.

Prior visionaries have been Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Now we have a visionary for our era, for us: Barack Obama. A perfect 10.

Marian Robinson, First Mother-In-Law and First Grandmother by Jane Iddings, Blogger

 

 

The First Lady, First Grandmother and Girls '09 (Saul Loeb/Agence France Presse -- Getty Images)

              

 

 

Waiting for election results '08 (David Katz/Obama for America via Reuters)

On May 3, 2009 the New York Times online published an article by Rachel L. Swarns about First Mother-In-Law Marian Robinson: "An In-Law Is Finding Washington to Her Liking."

While Mrs. Robinson is finding Washington to her liking, we hope she knows how much we have found her to be to our liking! Daily my admiration grows for the Obama/Robinson family.

Why?

Well, look at the pictures I've posted (with thanks to the photographers and news services). You get a sense of who she is just by looking at the pictures.

Mrs. Robinson is the firm but doting grandmother. In the article, Ms. Swarns quotes Washington writer and socialite Sally Quinn in describing Mrs. Robinson as "the perfect grandmother you'd kill for: cozy, nice, sweet, friendly and dear."

I'd add to that: principled, classy, smart, disciplined, sacrificing, focused -- all the characteristics that we mention when we talk about Barack and Michelle Obama as embodying.

Mrs. Robinson is often described as being a very fair but firm grandmother. You can bet her granddaughters both love and respect her.

What's the old saying? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree? Is it any wonder that Michelle Obama is the woman she is? That she married the man she did?

My favorite picture of Mrs. Robinson is the one with her son-in-law Barack Obama on the verge of his election as president of the United States. On 60 Minutes, Barack said how he was touched by his mother-in-law reaching out to hold his hand as the election results rolled in. What was even more amazing was that his focus was on her and on Michelle rather than on himself. He didn't say that it was about his election; instead he said it was about a black woman who grew up in segregated Chicago who was witnessing her daughter becoming First Lady of the United States.

How's that for maturity?

Thanks to Mrs. Robinson for joining the Obamas in Washington. She's a real class act.

Obamas' Date Night by Jane Iddings, Blogger

  The Cool First Couple

 

 

 

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are without a doubt "cool."

We all know their plates are more than full. Yet, they are such mature people that they handle what they have to handle and then . . . well, then they take time out to rest and relax, to be just regular human beings instead of the President and First Lady of the United States.

Tonight they donned casual, yet totally nifty clothes, and headed off for a date night at a fancy Georgetown restaurant. After a casual and no doubt romantic dinner that lasted some two hours, they returned to the White House. Before going in, they strolled around the South Lawn on a warm spring night. Next? When they ducked into the White House, the press predicted that the President would be watching the Bulls/Celtics game.

Doesn't it sound like a nice, casual, romantic evening? Of course we're ignoring the madness surrounding them of crowds, Secret Service and the whole trappings that go with their life style.

But isn't it comforting to know that the president has done everything he can and then takes care of himself and his wife, his marriage, his life, by enjoying himself?

And while he does, the girls' grandmother has undoubtedly spent the evening with them. Isn't it a wholesome picture, a wonderful contrast from the gruesome news of the day?

I am so glad the Obamas are in the White House. They are smart and classy, genuine and real. Aren't we lucky they are the First Couple, the First Family?

First Lady Michelle Obama and Jordan's Queen Raina by Jane Iddings, Blogger

First Lady Michelle Obama hosts Jordan's Queen Raina in the Yellow Oval Room in the White House Residence 4/23/09. White House Photo/Samantha Appleton

I obsessively followed the election of Barack Obama to the White House. I read the news, I followed many different polling companies watching for every little nuance that might indicate whether he was going to win or not. I worried, I held my breath, I prayed.

Once he became President Barack Obama, I resigned from my obsession.

Why? Because I trust that President Obama knows what he's doing. Trust. A wonderful feeling to have about the leader of a country. And I similarly trust Michelle Obama as First Lady.

Together they are a magical, awesome team. Bright, classy, thoughtful, purposeful and respectful people. Great leaders, great parents, great people.

It's nice to have my time back so I can focus on creating my life, knowing each and every day that the Obamas won't be perfect, but I trust them to do the best possible job anyone could do in this economy, this time in history.

The Obamas are such a blessing. They make me smile. They allow me to sleep at night.

One web site I do check out regularly is the White House's. Today's picture of the First Lady and the Queen of Jordan was frosting on the cake.

Thank you Mr. President and First Lady.