Celebrities choose an incredibly courageous reality. They choose to live an exaggerated version of life that never fails to get our attention. We notice them, we look for them, we search them out. Google, Tweeting, Facebook, Entertainment shows, Magazines, Books, Film, Radio. We watch, we marvel, we judge.

When they do well – we’re in awe, inspired, motivated, entertained, we revere them. When they slip from favour and make mistakes – we are aghast, disappointed, we ridicule, condemn. Regardless of their ups, their downs; we need to thank them.

It’s easy to thank someone for their influence when it’s commendable, but when it isn’t – not so easy.

Perhaps we never consider how much their larger than life lives give us.

Michael Jackson
Missed his childhood; no birthday parties, no play dates with friends. His childhood was work, rehearsals, performing, becoming a success, making money.

When he became an adult he spent time with children, hanging out being a kid himself. This brought him all kinds of trouble, because he wasn’t a child – he was a man. Trying to recapture his lost childhood, he was also missing out on his adulthood.

Often we spend so much time grieving over what we didn’t get we miss out on what we have.

The loss of childhood allows us to know how precious that time is and remember to allow that time for our own children and to value being the adult.

Oprah Winfrey
A huge success for twenty five years on day-time Television, she then decides to purchase her own network OWN. There are struggles with ratings and then it comes – the criticism. “Guess she can’t have everything. Oprah really blew it, big mistake.”

She could have easily remained where she was, but she dared to challenge herself and take a risk. It’s not always about ratings and money. Sometimes it’s about trying something different, taking a chance.
When people are used to you being a certain way – they get pretty comfortable. Then you go and change it up on them and all they think about, is how you’ve inconvenienced them.

This is when you have to be strong and support you, believe in you and trust. Or – scrap it all and just do what everyone else is comfortable with. Stay on the ground pecking at the dirt like a chicken or spread your wings and see how far you can soar. Chickens don’t soar (no offence to the chickens) – I’m thinking eagles.

Tiger Woods
A child prodigy, who was introduced to golf before the age of two. His entire life was golf – one focus, one direction, no distractions. He became No.1 in the world and for a time was the highest paid athlete ever – and then he fell from grace. By age thirty four he was in the midst of an infidelity scandal. His life went from one extreme to the other, as a result of living one extreme or the other.

When there is too much of one thing, it often bounces into too much of something else. Extremes pair up with other extremes. Hence; the need for balance – a happy medium.

Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey
Adults behaving badly. If they were children nit-picking, back-biting, going out of their way to antagonize the other – there would be a reprimand, punishment, time-out – “No more American Idol for you!”

But they are adults – notice I’m not referring to them as grown-ups, because there is no growth being witnessed here, just immature, childish, spoiled brat carrying-ons. Shame on these two. It’s irrelevant who starts it or who finishes it. They both take part.
Even if it is all a ploy for ratings – it is what it is.

Again if it were children – it would be inexcusable. For adults, it’s pathetic. When you get miffed with someone – how do you handle it, like a child who hasn’t learned to express themselves with throwing things, stomping feet, name calling or do you remember – “I’m not five anymore” I could probably take a breath and talk it out.

Lance Armstrong
Seven time winner of the Tour de France, survivor of testicular cancer, founder of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and creator of the Livestrong wristband.

Throughout his athletic career he doped, he cheated and he lied about it. For years he denied it and staunchly defended himself. After all, look at all the good he had done – he had inspired millions and raised millions for research. So what’s a little cheating? If he’s saying he didn’t do it… Let’s just focus on the good he’s done.

But all has changed. Lance Armstrong has admitted to doping, lying, cheating and doing his best to make the lives of others miserable if they got in his way.

Every day people lie and cheat and many times find a way to justify their dishonesty. When caught some even go so far as to look you in the eye and without so much as a blink deny it.

Lying is lying, cheating is cheating. It may not be the Tour de France. It may be, “I have a dental appointment,” when it’s really “I don’t want to have lunch with you.” “I’m working late to night,” rather than “I’ve met someone else I’d rather be with.”

Lying is lying, cheating is cheating.

Charlie Sheen
Star of a hit sitcom Two and Half Men. After years of substance abuse he has a public meltdown. The show shuts down and everyone employed by the show has their life on hold. Do they have a job, should they start looking? Is this over, can it be fixed?

The actions of one can affect many. When you make a choice – take a pause and think – who else am I involving?

Celebrities living large. Not always to their benefit, but always to ours. You can judge and feel better than or you can come away with something more. More gratitude, more courage, more balance, more maturity, more honesty, more thoughtfulness.

We can thank them for all the examples they give us of how to live well and sometimes the consequences of living; not so well.

Photo: Girl Scout holding bird, Yamashita Park, Yokohama Japan
By; Sharon Cooke