I love her.

I like her too. Which is funny I didn't like her at all when Obama was campaigning, something about her rubbed me the wrong way. I'm glad to see that I was wrong.

And I'm so glad that she is speaking up about the importance of putting yourself higher on our list of priorities. We as women tend to take care of everyone else first, I suppose it's that inherent nurturer in us. It took me until I was 40 to finally realize that by taking care of myself first I can better take care of my family and those around me. It's like the whole air mask thing on airplanes and how they tell you to put your own on first before assisting someone next to you, it makes alot of sense.

She has such Class!!

she looks beautiful!

I absolutely love her. She is one of my favorite people of all time.

Anyway, a lot of women should read this and take it to heart. Before you were a girlfriend, a wife, a mother, an engineer, a soldier, etc., you were just you. It seems like women so easily forget about themselves when there are so many other people and things to think about. However, it's very true that you cannot take care of other people if you can't take care of yourself. Other people should never be forgotten, but you have to look out for number one. It sounds selfish, but it doesn't mean if a bus was coming towards you and your baby, you should leave your kid and run for safety. Situations like that, where you would literally give your life for someone is very different. But if you don't take care of you, if you don't build up your self-esteem and all of that good stuff, what are you really giving to people around you? A mother will unconsciously teach her kids to be the same way as her, so if you're the type who is always feeling like crap because you gained 40 lbs, you affect other people. A wife will be insecure and that insecurity can ruin relationships. There are so many scenarios where how you take care of yourself can totally change the world around you.

I try to be this way. It's very hard for me, but not so hard for my boyfriend, who tends to be like every male and thinks about himself first. Growing up, my mom was nearly totally selfless when it came to my dad. She never put herself first under any circumstances. She lost all self-confidence and self worth. Since I was always witnessing this, as I got older I thought putting yourself first was so horrible, and any loving, caring, person would think of people before themselves. I am glad I discovered that this is not true at all. It's unhealthy to put yourself last. Like I said, it's hard...but I am getting better.

That's a gorgeous cover — just so festive and strong. Her advice is smart, too. You can't be a good partner/worker/whatever if you're constantly putting everyone else's needs first. When you take care of yourself, you'll be able to take care of others better, too.

Love the outfit and makeup, not so much the hair. Ah, well. She really seems like a wonderful lady. Such a class act.

This interview definitely makes her seem more personable than I have previously felt she was. The only thing I disagree with is being with someone who makes you feel whole, but I guess a lot of women hold that misconception.

I love the make-up and outfit!

As for the advice, I think it's a little trite, but still true, except for the comment about being with someone who makes you feel whole. I've always taken exception to that oft-repeated advice because I feel that you should be able to feel whole on your own.

I really liked the advice she gave. I see some people don't like the part about having a man who makes you feel whole, which I agree with. However, I feel that she may have meant that more as being with a man that you can be yourself with and that you don't have to hide who you are. I could be wrong, but that's how I saw that statement.

Well said, Chrstne. You brought up some wonderful points.

I think that FLOTUS Obama looks beautiful and radiant. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for her as a person and as a First Lady.

anonymous on post 11, I tend to agree with you on the part about being with a man who you can be yourself with. I used to think that I needed a man to be whole. It wasn't until I married my husband that I realized I was already whole without him, but it was funny because I felt more independent with him than without. He helped bring out the real me, the strong me and I'm grateful. I am absolutely whole without him, however, I am better with him, and he'll say the same thing about me.

Solid advice from Michelle... and poster, Chrstne.

Um, hasn't that advice been printed in pretty much every women's magazine ever? Hardly groundbreaking. I'd rather hear her thoughts on something a little more controversial, like feminism, race in America, or how she got those Madonna-arms (steroids, right? It must be steroids ).

Am i the only person who thinks that pose makes her look insect like?

Oh how I love that woman. I don't claim to be the most selfless person ever but I always tend to think other people's happiness = my happiness. It can be really draining though; I should listen to that advice.

And CG, now that you mention it, it is kinda insect-like.. still beautiful and interesting though. I've had it with cookie-cutter poses.

Oh, come on. That's not what she meant. If she did, that's what she would have said. My gosh, how people idolize others...