Confessions of A Teen Idol

Have you heard about the VH1 show called
Confessions of a Teen Idol?

I am not sure why I was drawn to it.
I wish I could remember what it was,
as I am not one to watch much TV.

I wish I could remember because I have
found it to be full of perspective, and
if a person watching had an open mind,
s/he would likely get much more than
what appears at first blush.

What is really great is that all of
the guys (Chris Atkins, David Chokachi,
Bill Hufsey, Jeremy Jackson, Eric Nies,
Adrian Zmed, Jamie Walters) seem to
have gotten along well. There have
been bumps, but it generally seems
that they all have a healthy respect
for one another.

I am sure it helps that they have all
come a similar place. There is
something to be said for have a
"like" experience, it tells someone
that there is a greater chance they can
understand what you are going through.

However, I have found that just
because someone hasn't gone through
what you've gone through doesn't mean
that they can't help. All human
experiences have underpinnings that
are related, even when the specifics
aren't.

I would suggest that someone who is
unwilling to listen to another, unless
s/he has gone through similar
circumstances is potentially blocking
his or her own growth. It isn't
uncommon to get caught up in the
superficial when attempting to solve
a problem because it is a very safe
place to be. It never addresses the
core issue, which might be a hot spot.

And, hot spot, or not, it is a place
we feel comfortable and familiar, and
we as human beings will often do
everything not to rock the boat. So
the next time you are having difficulties,
consider listening to another to see
what you CAN get from the conversation,
instead of automatically assuming
there is nothing.

Chances are there might be some gem.

I say this in part because, as I have
said, I feel that there are lessons
in perspectives that come from the
observation of what these men are going
through.

It might be easy to get caught up in
the superficial...how they look, for
instance, and the resulting judgments
that come from that, and the fact of
the matter is that I have seen several
bloggers do just that. Some have
even said that, short of wanting to
catch up with a favorite, there is
no point in watching.

I beg to differ.

I'll give you one of the perspective
"gems" from the show. Apparently,
Chris Atkins was "having fun" as he
went to see the producer and directors
of Footloose, as he was slated to play
the lead role. He said he went in
"out of his mind" and they "saw this
crazy guy," and realizing that they
couldn't take a chance, the role was
no longer his. As a result, of losing
the role, he wound up having a break down,
and went into rehab.

He said he hasn't touched anything
since, and it has been 22 years.

The question that comes to my mind is
what would have happened if he had
gotten the role? Would he have gotten
sober? Would he have lived to tell
the tale?

Sometimes things happen in our lives,
and these are things we'd rather do
without. However, it is these seemingly
devastating things that can bring us
a gift in the form of something
positively unexpected.

Yes, he is back to see what chance he
might have at fame again, and now who
he is, and what he has to share, is a
result of the sum total of his life
experiences...which include what has
happened from the moment he stepped
into rehab - a life he may not have had
without it.

For me, it is awesome to see the
perspective that time and life and
choices have made on these men. We
all have to have our own experiences,
so the odds of someone hearing some
helpful words is all relative to the
lesson that needs to be learned.

Let me just say, too, that I believe
that there are all kinds of lessons
to be learned, some of which are positive.
Thank goodness some of the world's
trailblazers "didn't listen."

Kudos to these men for stepping up,
and into their desires and dreams.
Kudos for jumping into the unknown,
their "discomfort zones." Many people
sit back and dream and wonder, and
do nothing.

Have you ever noticed that with
dissatisfaction comes change? Have
you ever noticed that there is very
little reason to desire, or create,
change when you are on the inside,
caught up in what is going on?

To make a change is to be able to be
on the outside looking in, and taking
a stand, likely to be someone, or do
something, that doesn't "fit" that
picture.

While inside the Hollywood picture,
they had less to bring than they do
now because I would suspect they likely
had less of themselves than they do now.
If they return, they enter into it,
bringing the "outside" perspective -
the one that has empowered them to be
where they are today. Once
there, they'll have an opportunity to
make a change from the inside out...
by just being who they are.

And, just maybe instead of warning
others of pitfalls, by being who they
are, they'll actually help to create
an environment with less pits.

One person at a time.
One step at a time.
One choice at a time.
One moment in time.