What Can We Learn From Susan Boyle?

If you haven't seen the video of Susan Boyle trying out for Britian's American Idol-type show, go immediately to YouTube, Huffington Post, or Google her.

The awkward 47 year old, wearing a dowdy dress and looking for all the world like a bit of a troll, Susan told Simon and the others that she had never been kissed, and lived alone with her cat Pebbles, after taking care of her mum most of her life.

The camera pans the audience and you see the snickering and laughing as they wait to see this person probably humiliate herself. Then she begins to sing...watch the video so you see for yourself.

How quick we are to judge. I was embarrassed for her before I heard her sing. It was a bit of an international wake up call (more than $20 million people have watched the YouTube video) that you can't judge a book by its cover.

The judges all admitted they thought she would be awful. They didn't say it was because she was unattractive, but that was the reason.

It caused me to take a long hard look at how judgmental I can be, and, I hope, try to be a better person.

Thanks, Susan. I'll be you've always deserved better than what you've gotten.

Comments

[Dixie Redfearn]

Aaron, Don,
Thanks for commenting. It does stir the emotions, and it seems like few things do that these days. That's sad in and of itself...

[Don Pelton]

We've been sending this video to our children and everyone we know. It really is worth thinking about what it is that's so moving and compelling in her performance.

My first thought was about the sheer power of music to pierce our hearts. You can even see it in her face as she performs. It's clear she loves the music, so it possesses her in a way. In the process of being captivated by the music, she captivates us.

Beyond that, of course, there's something in her story -- the underdog? the "ugly duckling", etc -- that resonates with every feeling human being.

We are all a little bit insecure at our core.

We all probably long unconsciously to have the world gasp at the sudden discovery our amazing heretofore hidden beauty!

[Aaron]

Dixie,

What a great video! So true. I'm reposting your post to my blog. Thanks for sharing.

Aaron