That was It? - The Price of Fame - Michael Jackson - "King of Pop"

I know I won’t be able to sleep until I get put on paper what I feel. I went to see Michael Jackson’s “This is it”, the documentary of his final days as he was creating his last world concert tour. I surprise myself in wanting to talk about him because I was never a “fan” even though I liked much of his music. I occasionally paid attention to the sensationalism of his life and career, but did not follow his life in detail.
I went to see the documentary to see what I would experience emotionally reflecting again on my experience of him as a teenager briefly in a clinical environment. As I have observed the rave reviews calling him the “King of Pop” I have also heard many of his critics malign his character and lifestyle. I decided once and for all I wanted to formulate my own opinion.
Without preconceived expectations I found myself mesmerized by this man’s talent and humility. I also acquired a renewed and intensified esteem for the influence this man had literally over innumerable adults and teenagers as I witnessed their genuine respect for his gifts and his character. It took me back more than thirty years when I spend but a few moments with the boy. Other than being transfixed by his technical creativity and discipline I experienced the identical feelings watching him on film that I did in his presence many years ago. I experienced the sensitivity, vulnerability, and innocence of a little boy.
“That was it” is my way of saying there should and could have been much more of Michael Jackson for us. I believe “This Is It” is as much of a sad commentary on a talented man and an extraordinary life extinguished too soon as it is a tribute to his musical legacy. His talent was paralleled with tremendous anxiety and drive for perfection. Although he originally paid attention to his health, he eventually compromised his health to satisfy the demands of his intense lifestyle. Perhaps the attraction of fame and fortune is more appealing to many than the less glamorous and marketable aspect of health, but in Michael Jackson’s case the loss of his health not only terminated his career but more importantly his life.
Had there been a reasoning voice among those people who most influenced his life to pay attention to balance he would probably still be with us. A healthy life (which requires balance) cannot be purchased or negotiated, it must be earned! The medications to make him sleep, wake him up and give him energy to keep him producing cost him proper rest and essential nutrition which ultimately helped generate the imbalance in his life that literally destroyed his heart.
I admire what I believe was a very sensitive and powerfully creative individual who brought joy and vision to many of his fans. What I fear however is a deadly influence upon many who do not understand the price he paid for disrespecting the laws of good health. His death is even more of a tragedy when it is not acknowledged that it could have been prevented...that is the message that needs to parallel his contribution to the music world as “King of Pop”.

REMEMBERING MICHAEL JACKSON

I treated Michael Jackson. When I was an intern in a chiropractic/naturopathic clinic in Eagle Rock California in the 70’s, Michael Jackson’s mother brought him in for treatment. As I recall he was fourteen at the time. At that time I believe he was known as a member of the Jackson Five and it was before he went out on his own. What struck me about this boy was how incredibly shy he seemed to be. Whenever I say to people I was shy as a child I am looked at in total disbelief. They seem to find it hard to believe that I was ever shy. Interestingly enough, it remains even today. This is the part of me however that related to Michael Jackson. I immediately experienced empathy for him that I did not understand until years later.

Through much of my life I’ve known what it was like to feel alienated and alone even though surrounded by people. To me that seemed to epitomize Michael Jackson’s life. I did not really follow his career (check out the links below for more information about him), I just occasionally paid attention to him when one of his many hits grabbed my interest. I was particularly intrigued with “Thriller” and used it many times in Halloween productions over the years. My intention here is only to reflect on my observations of a boy that never really seemed to leave his childhood. He had the ability (because of his extreme and unusual circumstances brought about by fame and wealth) to create a surreal life. I believe he never did experience passage into adulthood as most of us know it. With the absence of the natural evolution that journey brings, he remained isolated and mostly lived in a world of his own. This is not atypical for very talented and creative individuals…and it can make an existence very lonely.

The search for meaning and purpose in life can be a very painful and lonely even amidst success, fame, and notoriety. I have a lot of compassion for anyone who struggles in their life to find true love, a sense of belonging, or true value for who you really “are” rather than what you bring to the table for someone else. I believe to be truly healthy we have to come to terms with many of these kinds of conflicts and issues. Oftentimes life passes us by before the realizations and resolutions come along. We are fortunate indeed when we have people in lives that not only unconditionally love us and recognize those struggles but also employ courage taking the time and energy (and it can take a tremendous amount of both) to help us through to stable ground. I would have wanted that for Michael Jackson.

Find out more about Michael Jackson by visiting these sites.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001391/