I have to admit something here.  Yes, I voted for Barack Obama and yes I fully believe in his ability to lead this country.  Further prior to election day I believed Barack Obama would win fair and square.  However, I didn't believe that today we'd be celebrating this historic, monumental victory.  To be honest, I was prepared for an even bigger fight.  I thought today and the next few days would be spent recounting votes, investigating fraudulent voting activities on and on and on...

Ultimately I believed in President-elect Obama, but I had no faith whatsoever in this country. None. Even as I stood in line for over an hour with my two children so I could vote, I still believed that "they" could "fix" things to go in their favor.

Today, I'm realizing something that I never knew about myself and if it's true for me, it's probably true for thousands of others. I grew up an African American girl in a mostly white Pennsylvania town in the 1970s.  I was free to go to school anywhere, to sit next to anyone.  Yet even with all of my freedoms, the legacy of this country's disenfranchisement of Black people was firmly rooted in my psyche.  Deep down inside I didn't believe Obama would win the presidency without a second fight beyond the actual election.  I thought law suits would have to be filed to make this country do the right thing.

The irony is that I have been writing about endless possibilities and rising to your full potential-mentally, physically and spiritually for years.  Here's the truth, on some level I felt that politically there were parameters, limits and restrictions.

I knew for a fact that African Americans could make oodles of money. After all I interviewed Gregory Jackson of Prestige Automotive who made history as the first African American owned auto dealer to gross $1 billion in sales.  And I know Black doctors, lawyers, and other professionals who are doing quite well.  But the presidency just seemed like something unattainable. Something that wouldn't be "allowed" no matter how capable and brilliant the candidate, no matter how many votes came in. 

So I could hardly believe it as I sat in rapt attention watching CNN's coverage of the election.  The numbers poured in in Obama's favor.  Early on analysts were saying it would be a miracle if Senator John McCain won.   

Here's what I learned and it's a lesson I keep learning over and over.  No matter what you're feeling inside, you should always do the right thing.  For me on Tuesday the right thing was to vote despite my staggering doubts. 

Then came Obama's acceptance speech.  "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer,"

I felt like he was talking to me.  And I've never in life felt like a president was talking to me.  So do I now truly believe in endless possibility-physically, mentally, spiritually and politically? 

I'll say this, I'm definitely looking forward to this incredible journey.  As Oprah Winfrey said when interviewed last night "the best is yet to come."

Leah Mullen, Author of AGAIN AND AGAIN
Please visit my site http://www.leahmullen.com/ blog: http://mylifeisapageturner.blogspot.com/ life coaching column: http://www.bellaonline.com/site/lifecoaching Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/leah_mullen Do we read the same books? check out my shelf http://www.shelfari.com/leah_mullen Visit my profile on http://www.amazon.com/ to see my latest book reviews and guides including "Be a Self-Actualized Black Woman!"