"hopefully, at the end of your life, you'll be able to look back and say, 'I made a difference'."

[babylonsister]

Obama's European quiz: Any regrets?
Life can get boring, the president said, if it's all about nice cars and houses.
Posted April 3, 2009 9:40 AM
The Swamp

by Christi Parsons and Mark Silva

snip//

"Did you ever regret to run for president?' a young woman from Germany asked.

"It's a good question... Michelle definitely asks that question,'' Obama replied with a laugh, then wandering carefully into a personal, and inspirational tale:

"There have been times, certainly during the campaign, and there have been times over the past months, when you feel a lot of weight on your shoulders,'' Obama said.

"There is no doubt about it,'' he said. "During the campaign.... I was away from my family all the time... Not only do I have a wonderful wife, but I also have two perfect daughters... But it turns out that, as president, I now have this nice office in my house called the Oval Office.

"You also lose privacy and anonymity,'' the president said. "It used to be that, when I came to Europe, I could just wander down to some café, have some wine... and watch the sun go down... Now I have Secret Service around me all the time... Losing that ability to just have a walk, that is something that is frustrating....

"Having said all that, I truly believe that there is nothing more noble than public service,'' the presdient told his audience, which included many young people. "That doesn't mean that you have to run for president.,'' he said. "You might work for Doctors Without Borders... You might be the mayor of Strasbourg. You might volunteer in your own community.

"But the point is, what I found at a very young age, if you only think about yourself, how much money you can make, what can I buy, how nice my house is, how fancy my car is, over the long-term, I think you get bored...

"if you're only thinking about yourself, your life becomes diminished.. The way to live a full life is to think about, 'What can I do for others?'.... Especially for the young people here, I hope you consider other ways you can serve... The world has so many challenges... so many ways you can make a difference.....

"Better to jump in, get involved,,'' Obama said, "and it does mean that sometimes you'll get criticized and sometimes you'll fail and sometimes you'll be disappointed. But you'll have a great adventure... and hopefully, at the end of your life, you'll be able to look back and say, 'I made a difference.'''

more...

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/04/obamas_european_quiz_any_regre_1.html#more

[fasttense]

1. But, but, but President Obama always says to look forward not backward.

I guess at the end of your life it's ok to look behind you.

[countingbluecars]

3. You may have missed the point. n/t

[Uzybone]

9. A willful fool

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

19. Haha what a lame attempt to one-liner "gotcha" Obama.

Your snark post doesn't even make sense, and if you read the entire original post in the thread, you will read a very nice call by our president to direct your life towards service and goals with greater meaning, something your weak attempt at snark can't even put a dent in.

You seem to be playing in the wrong league. Your post has utterly failed.

[countingbluecars]

2. That was a great answer.

It feels good to be proud of the president and the country again.

[babylonsister]

5. I thought so, too. In its own way, I thought it was as inspirational as

Michelle's was yesterday to the girls in the school. I'm very proud of them both, and so grateful we all did the right, necessary thing by voting for this president. A return to sanity is so nice and was so necessary!

[Kahuna]

18. Here here: It's nice to be able to exhale.

:toast:

[Bluerthanblue]

24. can you imagine feeling this

hope... ? this...optimisim... in the face of what we are having to deal with as a nation with anyone else in the WH?

I can't.

I am so glad we have the leadership we do!

[firedupdem]

4. That was a great response. n/t

[AyanEva]

6. My god, I love this man.

He's the reason I'm trying to get into grad school. I think I can be a more effective public servant with an advanced degree. More opportunities to get involved and try to change things. I got accepted to one program already but I'm waiting to see what happens with the other once the application process is complete. I have my admissions interview on May 10th! I'll make my decision once I get word back from the second program.

I had really lost my focus before getting involved in the campaign. Volunteering for Obama helped me find my way and remember what it was that I was supposed to be doing. And gave me the courage I needed to get off my ass and try just a little bit harder. If he can put forth this much effort for all of us, I can do a little bit more for those around me too. :3

[JayMusgrove]

8. Very inspirational post !!! Thanks for sharing that! I think

you'll go far with that courage.

[AyanEva]

10. Aw, thanks!

:) I appreciate that. I'm certainly going to do my best.

[Barack_America]

11. I have many friends who are now starting to talk about public service.

Europeans and Americans.

It's very encouraging.

Personally, from my very first shift in a VA hospital, I knew that was my calling. And I'm walking towards it, one step at a time.

[AyanEva]

16. I think

that everyone has kind of seen the power of public service and they have a powerful example of what you can achieve if you band together and work for the greater good.

[tavalon]

12. Excellent!

The ripple effect and I'm sure your ripples will effect others and so on............

[AyanEva]

20. One of City Year's Founding Stories

Is the starfish story. You can read it at the link below.

http://www.ordinarypeoplechangetheworld.com/articles/the-starfish-story.aspx

There's a whole book of founding stories and the starfish story has always been my favorite. I try to live by the founding stories as much as I can.

[nolabear]

13. Proud to Know You!

And a bit of unsolicited advice. Surround yourself with people who, like you, want to lift others up rather than hold them down, whether it's through standing in their way or comisserating rather than encouraging when you lose confidence. You can. WE can. Together.

[AyanEva]

15. :)

This is why I love working in the non-profit sector. For the most part, nobody is out for just themselves and everyone is willing to go that extra mile to help someone else. I definitely learned the value of that when I did City Year. CY was my first step in this direction, then I sort of floundered a bit after that, and then Obama rolled around and it was like I woke up again. lol I almost think the floundering was necessary because I discovered the things that I didn't want to do and that helped to narrow down what I did want to do and then the campaign further refined it until I was sure about my direction and confident that I had the conviction and ability to do it.

[babylonsister]

14. Thanks for sharing, AyanEva. It's nice to see

what a positive effect our president is having on people. And good luck with your interview-I hope you hear from the other program, too. :thumbsup:

[AyanEva]

21. Thanks!

I'm going to try to prep to make sure I do as well as possible.

[Barack_America]

7. Is this man actually my President? *pinches self*

That's an admirable philosophy.

And one that I deeply believe in.

(Okay, enough, I'm starting to tear up here.)

[Marie26]

17. That's a nice post.

Reassuring!

[my2sense]

22. It's so good to have

a President that I feel proud of. Imagine the number of youth that will strive to be better because of both he and Michelle.

[Bluerthanblue]

23. wow... just wow. I am so glad

he is leading this nation.

Thanks for posting this !

:grouphug:

[lala_rawraw]

25. we all make a difference

each in his/her own way:)