On Friday I was talking about Michael Jackson's passing work and I wanted to know why people cry when someone famous like this passed. I thought it was an immense shame, but I didn’t feel the need to cry. Although I've seen many crying in the news.
Over the next few days, radio stations, MTV, and a couple other tv/radio stations began playing the wide array of music that he had done.
One by one, memories started coming back in my mind about different times in my own life and where I was at the time. I watched the videos with great reflection on Michael Jackson’s behalf. If that’s possible… Meaning I watched him, "really" watched him perform. Watched who he was ... thought about the things he had been through, what he was accused of in life. I wondered at one point, if he simply just got tired.
He was conditioned by an abusive father to be the best. To practice until he got it right. At least these are the stories I’ve heard over the years. His focus was to be “the best singer”, “the best artist”, "the best performer" to have fame, recognition. All things he was taught were important. And he certainly shinned, didn’t he? I think so…
I watched these videos and I thought about how he never learned the simple things. The things we may take for granted. Although I know he had charities and things the he contributed to throughout his life. I'm talking about “for himself” as an individual… it seemed there wasn’t very much. You know, as a human being.
Loved by millions, not loved by one. And he was a corky fella… You could see his style in the many video’s. I watched, the fire, his dedication, the impecable dancing and singing. He was truly masterfull.
Yet… here’s this guy who has brought so many memories to others. For some, solace from some things and memories from different times. Memories revived which has now come from his passing. And to die, in this way… so senseless. A waste … on so many levels.
I have a favorite song that he did when he was married to Lisa Marie Presley. It's entitled, “You Are Not Alone". The first time I ever heard that song I was living in the shore area in a house I really loved. It was an old house, falling apart but I really liked it there. Hearing the song that day brought me to tears the first time I heard it and I still can get choked up today when I hear it again.
I wasn’t looking out or “for” any new releases of any kind from him. I kind of heard the music and took for granted the massive amount of talent that he had.
I think this is a good reminder to not let life slip through our fingers. To not take things for granted… and to not assume because someone has wealth and fame, that they’re happy.
I’d take both myself. Actually I would have happy, healthy and wealthy… not necessarily fame, that has it’s own issues.
I have to say, now that it’s sunk in a bit… I understand more why people cry when someone like this young fella passes. And make no mistake… he was a young fella. 50 is not old… not in this day and age with people living longer lives.
They hear a song, they’re in a certain place, it brings back memories for them and that hope a song can bring to people. The heart it can touch. They have an emotional attachment to all that this person has acheived in their life. This guy, meant “something” to so many people… for so many different reasons… I can see it now. It took me a couple days to absorb the whole thing however, I see it now.
I’m glad he’s in a place, where he will be eternally happy now. R.I.P… You’re free. (MJ)
The other thing that comes to mind for me is, does something like this make us question our own mortality?
We could be gone in an instant. Not under Michael Jackson's cirumstances (or maybe, you never know) but an accident or ... some unforseen "something".
By the end of today I started to think, wouldn't this have us considering our own mortality. I have ...
I mean, look at this man. Acheived all these things and he was, sadly, a mess.
What about the rest of you? I am in no way inferring that anyone here is a mess but what are the things we just assume will be there?
That's not true. History tells us this isn't true, yet we tempt fate all the time and take for granted the time we have and what we do. I'm not saying all the time, I am saying I think it happens to some of us, some of the time.
I think it's a very interesting thought process...
You KNOW you're going to do it... but you still ask others for their opinion
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I was reading a newsletter I get on finances and learning how to budget
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Someone wrote into this person and was talking about their ...
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2 comments:
I believe that every time we hear of a celebrity passing away, it makes us think about our own mortality a little bit. These people are larger than life, and if they can't beat the eventual demise, then what does that pose for the rest of us?
That, plus we think about how we were touched in some fashion by all of these people. For Michael Jackson, we're almost the same age, and his life and my life had a symbiosis because of it. Yes, it scares me; if someone like him, who may have been in better condition than me, couldn't get beyond, what does that portend for me?
Of course, we'll know sooner or later just what the deal was. Because that's where the equality really leaves. They'll come back with some kind of history of stuff he may have done or taken, and I have none of that. It's those other circumstances that separate us from "them"; same with Farrah, same with Ed McMahon.
So, we mourn, and we remember; that's pretty much as good as it gets.
What I think we need to learn from people like him, who was, sadly in bad shape, to take care of ourselves and to remember what's really important in life.
Wealth is GREAT! Make no mistake, however our health, mental and physical health is the most important thing because without it we can't maintain anything else properly.
What it portends for you, as well as myself, is to learn to take better care of ourselves.
Maybe we should take the lesson with us... nothing is as it seems on the outside and we only have control over ourselves and what we bring into or take out of our life.
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