Last weekend while the news coverage was focused on Whitney Houston’s memorial service, I happened to catch the interview she did with Oprah back in 2009 on the OWN network. Something Whitney said has been on my mind ever since. Oprah asked her how she felt about the passing of Michael Jackson. It was sad to see the look on Whitney’s face and to hear her say how sad it was that Michael’s life had ended like that. I don’t remember the exact wording but Oprah asked her if she felt that Jackson’s passing was a warning to her. She made it clear that she didn’t want her life to end like that. My heart sank when I heard those words, because here we are less than three years later and she’s gone.
What really struck a chord with me is that Whitney had been rooting for Michael’s success, the way her fans had been rooting for her. Fans from every walk of life wanted to see Whitney make a complete comeback. We wanted her to hit that high note, not just on record, but in life! We wanted to know that she was healthy, vibrant, successful-and yes, eventually we would want some music too!
I believe that she was on her way back. But seeing that clip and listening to her speak just made me realize that too often we cheer on other people, pray for their healing, and champion their dreams, without ever fully committing to our own success. We see and admire their light, their gifts, and their talent while we stall, or in some cases, sabotage our own happiness.
Each of us has something to offer, whether it’s to a mass audience or our immediate families. In no way am I suggesting that we withdraw our support from others. I just wish more of us would remember that our goals and dreams are valid and worth pursuing with all the gusto we can muster. But no matter how many people support and love you, you’ve got to root for yourself as well!
Invest in yourself, your talent, your craft, your dreams. Get excited about what you’ve got going on. Commit to your success!
