This Life's Leading Lady

Life isn’t fair. Life isn’t a rehearsal.  Clichés to live by.

       I was thinking about lives in general while I was soaking in the tub this morning.  People often think other people live charmed lives because they are just looking in at a shiny window but not seeing into the closets of the individual.  I’m not talking about dirty little secrets, I am talking about the everyday disappointment and despairs that all people live through.  In particular my generation, as those who came before us, were raised with a certain sense of discretion when it came to speaking about our personal affairs.  “It just isn’t done”.

       Before “Entertainment Tonight” and “National Enquirer” celebrities sought to display only the positive side of their lives.  One of the popular Hollywood magazines would be invited into Joan Crawford’s or Debbie Reynold’s home to take shots of their lovely living rooms and their darling little children.  They did not advertise their personal tragedies, drinking, drugs, abortions or whatever.  We thought they led charmed lives, just as we were led to believe that a certain amount of money would take us to a level where we would not have any problems.

       Life is not that simple.  Even the rich and famous have any amount of problems and disappointments.  The ones today who lead a life of grace are those who recognize that every day there are things that need to be overcome, whether it is a plumbing problem or simply getting across town without getting hit by road rage.  These people approach their day with a positive attitude and greet the world with a smile on their face.  These are every day people, not necessarily glamorous.  I don’t think we are given enough credit for how we approach living but when you think about it, every day you are sent out into the world to make a living and deal with whatever is thrown at you.  Somehow at the end of the day we come home with the bacon.

I was reflecting on a line from “The Holidays” that Eli Wallach said to Kate Winslet’s character, “You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason you are acting like the best friend.”

And she says “You are so right; you should be the leading lady in your own life, for God’s sake.”

So as you are living this day, ask yourself if you are living it to the fullest or if you are waiting in the wings for your cue to go on.  You may surprise yourself with this light bulb moment.