Lessons I learned from Michael Jackson

Michael Jacksons’ death was an awakening for my internal compass. First, I always appreciated culture. As an individual whose ancestry can be traced back to four continents I felt culture should be embraced and is an important marker of one’s overall identity.

But today culture is a little less important. I am not saying that we should not learn from each other or adhere to the forbearers of our struggles for inspiration. But today I’m fully human…not Arab, Spaniard Sicilian, Polish or Cherokee Indian, instead just human.

There are experiences we confront as members of a community or as an individual, and yet we should appreciate humanity as a whole. Sure I may not feel connected to the 300lbs white woman with a mustache waiting in line in front of me at the deli counter, and you may not feel connected to the young orphan left hungry in Liberia, but still we are all connected. We can make those connections positive or negative. We can embrace or ignore them, but that doesn’t make them any less real

I felt sorry for Michael Jackson. He never experienced the fullness of childhood and often experienced friendships that were anything but. He was surrounded by people but felt alone because those people were not in sync with him they were seeking from him.You cannot pick your family, but you can pick your friends.

Hopefully you surround yourself with people that embrace and enhance you. They may correct you, but will always love you. I never met Mr. Jackson, but would have liked to now that I know he liked KFC. He expressed with his music what many cannot with their actions, a human connection. Honestly, I was more saddened by his death than that of my parents or others close to me.

I don’t know if he could see the Memorial tribute in L.A, but I hope he did. I was especially touched by Parris Jackson I’m going to make a point to appreciate those important persons in my life while their still here on earth.

I fondly remember a priest I met when I was 16 yrs old I’m beginning to pray for people who are not part of my daily life like Parris Jackson or the families of Euna Lee and Laura Ling. They needs Gods kindness

I do not normally blog about celebrities, but the last week was so touching to me. Celebrities are people with faults and alike, but anywayJust some of my random thoughts. Our lives can be illustrations of how to act, or how not to act.