MICHAEL Jackson
Since I am a certified Michael Jackson fan, I would like to pay homage to my idol, to mark his 57th birth anniversary (Aug. 29).
My friends often tease me that I should move on. I keep his memory alive by collecting MJ stuff.
Allow me to share some of MJ’s musings from the rare book, “Dancing the Dream: Poems and Reflections” by Michael Jackson (Doubleday, 1992). It’s one of my prized possessions. Even if you are not a fan, it’s impossible not to be moved by MJ’s words.
MJ has always been an angel. God just made it official when he moon-walked into heaven. Hail to the King of Pop who is also the king of my heart!
Here are MJ’s personal musings:
Enough for today
Dance rehearsals can go on past midnight, but this time I stopped at 10.
“I hope you don’t mind,” I said looking up into space, “but that’s enough for today.”
A voice from the control room spoke, “You okay?”
“A little tired, I guess,” I said.
I headed down the hall. Running footsteps came up behind me.
“I know you too well,” she said, catching up with me, “What’s really wrong?”
“Well, I don’t know how this sounds, but I saw a picture today in the papers. A dolphin had drowned in a fishing net… Its eyes were vacant, yet there was still that smile, the one dolphins never lose, even when they die.”
She put her hand lightly in mine, “I know, I know.”
“No, you don’t know all of it yet. It’s not just that I felt sad, or had to face the fact that an innocent being had died. Dolphins love to dance—of all the creatures in the sea, that’s their mark. Asking nothing from us, they cavort in the waves, while we marvel. They race ahead of ships, not to get there first but to tell us, ‘It’s all meant to be play. Keep to your course, but dance while you do it.’
“So there I was, in the middle of rehearsal and I thought, they’re killing a dance. And then it seemed only right to stop. I can’t keep the dance from being killed, but at least I can pause in memory, as one dancer to another. Does that make any sense?”
Her eyes were tender, “Sure in its way. Probably we’ll wait years before everyone agrees on how to solve this thing. So many interests are involved. But it’s too frustrating waiting for improvements tomorrow. Your heart wanted to have its say now.”
“Yes,” I said, pushing the door open for her, “I just had this feeling and that’s enough for today.”
Trust
As I was feeding squirrels in the park, I noticed a small one that didn’t seem to trust me. While the others came close enough to eat out of my hand, he kept his distance. Next time he must have felt less afraid, because he came a little closer… Finally he sat right at my feet. Trust is like that—it always seems to come down to trusting in yourself. Others can’t overcome fear for you: you have to do it on your own.
We are afraid of being rejected, of being hurt once more. So we keep a safe distance. We think separating ourselves from others will protect us, but that doesn’t work, either. It leaves us feeling alone and unloved.
Trusting yourself begins by recognizing that it’s okay to be afraid. Having fear is not the problem …The problem is not being honest enough to admit your fear.
Whenever I accept my own… insecurity, I’m more open to other people. The deeper I go into myself, the stronger I become… I realize that my real self is much bigger than any fear. In accepting yourself completely, trust becomes complete. There is no longer any separation between people, because there is no longer any separation inside. In the space where fear used to live, love is allowed to grow.
MJ bash
Michael Jackson fanatics unite! Let us celebrate the legacy of MJ on Aug. 29, 8 p.m. at The Crowd Bar (Madison Square. Pioneer St., Mandaluyong) in “Remembering the King: A Birthday Tribute to the King of Pop.” Featuring my fave MJ impersonator, Jericho Valencia and other guests (entrance P100). We just can’t stop loving you, MJ!