MOST IMPORTANT

In May 2013, President Barack Obama addressed graduates at Moorehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia to tell them that real success in life is about excelling and sacrificing as a husband or wife, a father or mother, and as grandparents. 

What matters MOST is loving and being family.

  

Yes, I am in this picture! I am the child at the top right corner. My mother and father are directly below me, and 7 of my 10 siblings are also in the photo, as are my father's parents, and siblings (and spouses) and their children.  

 That is what matters most in life!

And yes, I am here also. I am the squinter near the center front. This represents only half or my dozen maternal aunts and uncles but does include my mother and her father (grandpa top right and mom in front of him).

I so loved being able to visit Uncles and Aunts and play with cousins. Many of us still visit and we share news in cousins groups on FaceBook. Isn't social media wonderful?

Obama said, 

“And when I talk about pursuing excellence and setting an example, I’m not just talking about in your professional life. ... 

I was raised by a heroic single mom, wonderful grandparents — made incredible sacrifices for me. And I know there are moms and grandparents here today who did the same thing for all of you. But I sure wish I had had a father who was not only present, but involved. Didn’t know my dad. ... I want to break that cycle where a father is not at home — (applause) — where a father is not helping to raise that son or daughter. I want to be a better father, a better husband, a better man.

It’s hard work that demands your constant attention and frequent sacrifice. And I promise you, Michelle will tell you I’m not perfect. She’s got a long list of my imperfections. (Laughter.) Even now, I’m still practicing, I’m still learning, still getting corrected in terms of how to be a fine husband and a good father. But I will tell you this: Everything else is unfulfilled if we fail at family, if we fail at that responsibility. (Applause.)

I know that when I am on my deathbed someday, I will not be thinking about any particular legislation I passed; I will not be thinking about a policy I promoted; I will not be thinking about the speech I gave, I will not be thinking the Nobel Prize I received. I will be thinking about that walk I took with my daughters. I’ll be thinking about a lazy afternoon with my wife. I’ll be thinking about sitting around the dinner table and seeing them happy and healthy and knowing that they were loved. And I’ll be thinking about whether I did right by all of them.

So be a good role model …”

To read or hear his full remarks (transcript below video) go to 

http://time.com/4341712/obama-commencement-speech-transcript-morehouse-college/

These particular remarks begin about 20:30 minutes into the video as he gives special emphasis to the story of one of the graduates, Frederick Anderson, to illustrate his message about what is most important.