Just Thinking Out Loud Here...

What does every CEO, President, Olympian, Oscar winner, Doctor, or any other 'successful' position have in common? An utter LACK of cynicism. "Real success cannot be achieved in the presence of cynicism... A cynic will always put their finger on the disease before they put it on health. It's the easy way to go."

I got this quote from my brother, Scott--who heard it from a friend.

It was so impacting

I had to post it here

Would love to leave it up for a month

So completely and utterly

TRUE

Really

So, so true

Now, here is what I think:

Cynicism is crippling.

It can halt you in your tracks

and can keep you from

reaching out to accomplish,

pursuing a dream,

believing in love,

going for that promotion,

putting yourself on the line,

taking a risk,

having faith to believe,

taking the plunge,

making a commitment,

letting down your guard,

opening up,

living life fully,

doing the right thing,

pushing for change,

standing up for justice,

seeing the possibilities,

and just about

anything

else!

OK

and here is more of what I think...

The only real cure for cynicism

is forgiveness.

Forgiveness.

The only way to cure cynicism

is to forgive

whoever caused

the hurt,

the broken-ness

the disappointment

the betrayal

the let-down...

Whoever, or even whatever

broke your heart

smashed your hopes

crushed your dreams

hurt you

snubbed you

embarrassed you

neglected you

damaged you

gave you up

gave you away

gave up on you

let you go

didn't stop you

didn't want you

didn't believe in you

didn't trust you

didn't notice you

didn't help you

didn't return the favor

didn't follow through

didn't return your love

didn't answer your questions

didn't give you a chance

judged you

left you

left you out

singled you out

sold-you-out

broke their promise

broke your trust

failed you

turned on you

over-looked you

stood in your way

kept you in the dark

took you for granted

took advantage of you

took your place

stole from you

tricked you

avoided you

mocked you

made fun of you

meddled in your life

turned others against you

blamed you

lied about you

cheated on you

or did

something

else.

The only way out

(if you want out)

is to

forgive them.

him.

her.

yourself.

And then,

I guess

after the forgiveness part,

the only other thing left to do,

is let go of the fear

that it's all going to happen

again.

And again.

But,

here's the thing,

if it does,

you can always forgive again.

And

I'm sure

I make it all sound too simplistic.

I'm so naive.

I'm far too optimistic

about all of this.

(especially, if you're cynical)

Doppel What?

So, the trend on Facebook (lately), is to post a picture of THE celebrity to whom you are most often compared.

REALLY?

Are there many of us who are actually compared to celebrities, on a consistent basis?

I could take this exercise in MANY directions...
There are a couple I've been compared to over the years.
A few, I WISH someone would tell me I resemble.

But, even when I put a dozen pictures into one of those computer-generated-read-your-face websites, the images of look-alikes they spit out, leave me baffled:
Portia De Rossi
AND
Katherine Heigl?
Really?
Seriously?
I am tempted to put a picture of Raquel Welch, Lynda Carter or Catherine Zeta-Jones into the same computer program,
to see THEIR look alikes.
Wish they'd spit out a picture of ME as their results.
Wonder how that would make them FEEL?

I'm not about to get hung up on this.
This isn't an essay about being happy with who you are,
looking in the mirror and liking yourself more,
or any of that crap we're trying to infuse our daughters with,
in an attempt to create self-esteem and positive body images.

Frankly, I don't even know what this is about.
I think it's about the fact that
(gasp)
I'm beginning to consider having some "work" done.

(And I'm not talking about the long-overdue tummy tuck I dream about at night)

I NEED to get some work done.

And I should just get on with it.

I need Michelle Obama's arms.

I need to develop those biceps.

Summer is approaching, as is swim suit season.

I need Lynda Carter's teeth.

Those white, white teeth.

Only a package of Crest Strips away.

I need better eyebrows.

Maybe Salma Hayek's.

A magnifying mirror, tweezers and a steady hand...are all it would take.

I need Mother Teresa's selflessness

and

Angelina Jolie's always-room-for-one-more, open hands

and

Madonna's dedication to re-inventing herself every five years

and

Maya Angelou's way with words

and

Audrey Hepburn's elegance

and

Mary J Blige's swagger

(as well as the name of her tattoo artist)

and

my mother's

devotion

grace

wisdom

smile

and

scent.

Yes.

I need to have some "work" done.

And you know what?

Every bit of it,

is possible.

I CAN:

do

have

or become

any or all

of these things.

Because honestly, there is nothing...

Nothing...

NOTHING

(except

ME

and my tendencies to

procrastinate,

ponder and

justify,

when I should get up and do something

or change something),

preventing

Any

or

All

of those things, traits, characteristics or strengths

from becoming part of the woman I am.

I am

after all,

a woman.

And I love being a woman.

Well,

other than my mother's smile

and scent.

Those will never be duplicated,

and will be missed...

always.