I admit it. I got choked up watching American Idol tonight.
My breath caught in my throat, my chest got tight, and I sat alone in my living room grinning from ear to ear like an idiot.
It happened last night when I was watching The Contender too.
Some people denigrate these shows because they’re reality shows. But you know what? This isn’t just a group of strangers put in a house or on an island to fight over money. These people are going after their dreams. How can you NOT cheer them on?
Can you imagine how it felt for those people to get on that stage in a huge arena like that, on television, and sing with THEIR idols? Carrie got to sing with Rascal Flats, and Bo got to sing with Leonard Skynard. Those moments are DREAMS COMING TRUE.
Or for the boxers on The Contender to get a chance to meet/get to know/train with Sugar Ray Lenard and Sylvester Stallone?
And they happened because they went for it!
Even the ones that try out, and are absolutely terrible…you have to give them credit for chasing their dreams. It takes faith, perseverance, and guts to go after what you want. To face ridicule and rejection, and to keep on keeping on.
There are many days when I just don’t want to write. I don’t want to sit in front of a computer, I don’t want to think, I don’t want to open up an email . . . or an envelope and see a rejection letter. But then I think about what I do want. I do want to be self-employed. I do want to see my name on bookstore shelves. I do want to share the stories that fill my head. I do want people to read those stories, and find some enjoyment or escape from their own worries and troubles.
I have posters on my walls with motivational sayings like “All Glory comes from daring to begin.” And “Success doesn’t come to you, you go to it.” One of the things on the bulletin board in front of me, is a page from a sports calendar that is a couple of years old, but I keep it because it helps me stay motivated those off days. The saying on it; “Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them.”
It almost makes me wish there was a big writing contest like that. But, with my luck it would be American, and they wouldn’t accept Canadians. Plus, it would probably pretty boring to sit and watch people read, not very interactive at all. I can say having Angela Knight critique The Devil Inside, and say she was impressed is something I’ll always remember. (And yes, I STILL have the email, and a printed copy of her critique to remind myself that if she liked it…I’m on the right track.) But, I have to say if I had a chance to live an interactive moment (or hour) with one of my idols, I think I’d choose to work out with Chuck Norris.
That man is amazing. There’s so much more to him than his movies and TV series (Walker; Texas Ranger) But that’s another post.
This is the end of this one…but I would like to know…what would you choose to do if given the chance to interact with an Idol of your own?
I would converse with Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. I’d ask them how to raise hope and awareness today given the current political climate and the degeneration of human rights and values. And just to be in their presence would be awe-inspiring. They’re my idols. Or Brad Pitt.
While I’d like to have an intelligent conversation with Mel Gibson, I’d probably have to mop up the pile of drool coming out of my mouth…
I’d have to say I am not much of an Idol worshipper, I truely believe that every individual is unique and intresting on some level… even the ones I don’t like! That said, If I could time travel there is a host of people I would like to visit with, as I am intrested in history. In the realm of the living, I’ll buy you a cup of coffee for your life story 🙂
I think it’s important that you go for your dreams. A few months back Chey quoted country singer Tim McGraw’s song ‘How Bad Do You Want It?’ I think it sums up pursuing big dreams quite well. As for who I’d want to talk to…Jesus. I have a lot of questions.
You’re so right about going after your dreams. And my idol . . . My mom is my true idol but I talk to her often so that would bore you guys. But right I’d want to talk to the person who’s been most inspiring for me and that would be Danny Vaughn. His music and lyrics have turned a seed of an idea into a full plot. So I’d just say thank you.
I love watching AI too. It’s really an emotional show and I think as writers striving for a difficult dream to achieve, we can really relate to the thrill of making it in the final show.
Dreams are so important, and you’ve gotta chase them to grab hold. Like Jordan said above, I believe in the line of thinking, "How bad do you want it?" In a YA that I have coming out in October, at the end of the acknowledgments (thank you, thank you, thank you’s!) I wrote: "I can’t forget to say thank you to dreams. Without that vivid dream I had one night, this book wouldn’t be here. Without shooting for my dreams and making them happen, neither would I."
Dreams are so important. Working toward them is the only way we will achieve them. 🙂