Too Much Media

I have returned friends... It has taken me some time to decide what my feelings were surrounding our current media outlets.

I've determined that I have a very strong love/ hate relationship with them. I don't know that I could take another minute about hearing about Michael Jackson, Steve McNair, or Obama. Yet, I can't change the channel or stop reading the articles and special documentaries. By now we all know that anytime someone reaches the spotlight their lives immediately become unfiltered. I picked the three aforementioned people to focus on because I have a mixed review on the media in each case.

MJ- Yes, I watched the procession on CNN, but something deep inside felt like I was intruding. Even though it was displayed on global television on some level I felt like it should be private. Here I am sitting on the couch during lunch watching the entire thing unfold from the freeway to the Staples Center, to the carrying of the casket and all I am thinking about is... "Wow, 3 Excursions, 5 Rolls Royce, and 12 Range Rovers". Are we mentally twisted as a society or what? We are supposed to be honoring this man's life, but we are acting like the secret service with his family. Did we really need to watch EVERYTHING?? Can't celebrities be human for one moment? Can we at least give their family respect enough to mourn alone for a few hours before the public memorial. No, of course not. We had to see Neverland Ranch. We needed pictures of the body on a stretcher. We had to go into his financial woes, etc, etc. Can't we just leave it to Biography and True Hollywood Story to give us the glory? In the next 20 years these celebrities will be hardwired with chips so we have a Lo-Jack on their every move. Seriously? Let's get over it.

On another note of privacy- Steve McNair. His death was unfortunate. His circumstances were precarious. We found out on live TV... just like his wife. Maybe we should let her deal with her emotions without the details of the affair 24/7. In a matter of hours the media divulged enough information to overshadow the accomplishments of a great professional athlete. People make mistakes. There are a million Joe Shmos out there across tons of borders that do what Steve did everyday. It doesn't make it right by any means, but it doesn't need to be made a spectacle of. This father / husband passed and all we can talk about are the hidden vacations and car titles with his name on it. What happened to minding our business? People will always want to know things... but it doesn't mean we have to tell all. If a missile is coming- TELL ME. If Bill Clinton smokes more pot in his living room- DON'T. Tell the news. Leave the reality BS for the people that sign up for it... like the Real Housewives and the Real World kids. Learn a separation. Media has its role... but it needs some guardrails.

Obama. I can't tell what the media thinks about him. All of the coverage he got through election was well deserved. Every moment was historical. Anyone can see that from many perspectives. What I want to know is what all the business is about him being a celebrity... a new fad. They act like he created that himself. Sure, we have a lot more access to the White House now that the Obama Administration has brought technology in, but the pictures of him in Five Guys and Ben's Chili Bowl are NOT from his personal camera. That's the media lens. I'm sure if our President had a moment to breathe without all of the click click flash and printed works... he would be pretty excited about it. The media should be thankful that he views himself as a man of the people. He allows himself to be readily available to his country. Give him a break. He's trying to fix our lives. And as we comment on how he isn't handling it swiftly or as well as we would like... just take note that he is cleaning up years of mess he didn't create. Give him credit for wanting so badly to change it all for us. I didn't see too many people busting down the door for his job. Chill. And remember that if you want to take pictures of him.. that's on you. He didn't ask you to conduct a photo shoot.

Lessons In Life

For the past few weeks I have been spending a little time thinking about life and where I am.. and how far I've come. I'm discovering that thing they call wisdom. Granted I'm nowhere close to reflecting on 70 years of life's experiences, but I do see how much I've changed from childhood to high school and on past the beginning of college into my adult life. It's funny how much I thought I knew about life at 14. I had no clue. haha. I've learned to appreciate all that comes with time. I thought I'd begin to list just a few things that came to mind. Most of these stick... some are still a work in process for me. I'm sure there are still plenty untapped and much left to learn....

You don't have to apologize for who you are... your beliefs, your choices, your success... none of it.

You don't have to change friends if you understand friends change

You don't always know what is best for someone else, be sure to mind your own dealings

You're not always right

You can do it... if you try

Perseverance is key

Get up early... you'll feel more productive

Learn to trust yourself

Have Faith

Count your blessings

You don't have to live through EVERY experience to know it's not for you... observe others.

Sometimes you have to step outside of yourself to grow

Take care of yourself... the people that need you depend on that

The world keeps turning no matter what you do

You can't save someone that doesn't want to be saved

Do what you love

Never ask for permission to be yourself

If you feel the need to change everything about someone... they probably aren't for you

It's never too late to go back to school

Life never gives you more than you can handle... we're stronger than we know

Mom cares... let her

Be financially responsible

Read, listen to, go see, pause for that which calls to you.

People do what they want no matter what your opinion.

Be accountable

"Don't take yourself so seriously... no one else does"

Your past does not dictate your future

If nothing changes, nothing changes

Don't rush past life... you'll miss a lot in the process

Stress is useless. You can't control everything. Stop trying to.

Give time, time.

Love wholeheartedly. We all fall sometimes, we all get hurt... don't let it stop you from experiencing life.

Never hold your feelings in... people aren't mind readers. Express yourself.

Find time for yourself everyday.

Never stop learning.