So, I really feel a way about the recent deaths of Brittany Murphy & Casey Johnson... two more additions to the long list of celebrities that have died from drug overdose. It sickens me that the medical community continue to cater to the dysfunctional personalities that crowd the entertainment industry. I wouldn't say that the blame should be solely placed on the medical community; however, something should be done. How a person functions on medicinal cocktails, that sometimes include double-digit prescription drugs, is beyond me. Why would someone want to try to function that way, & what is so bad in that person's life that they have this co-dependency?
However, this is only part of the issue.... the beginning starts @ the beginning. What type of home a person comes from, what type of beliefs or morals that a person has, & the maturity level of a person, are just some of the factors that determine how successful one can be, & how one will handle success.
Our generation, more than ever, is dominated by fame & wealth. Everyone wants to be rich, famous, powerful, connected, or important. Each person takes whatever slice of the pie that they can afford... from the ghetto chick that loves to rock Prada, Gucci, & Fendi, or the like (knock-off), to the CEO that has the multi-million dollar home, luxury vehicle, & never-ending wealth.
Unfortunately, the common denominator any each case is the lack of real happiness. Everyone is so busy chasing happiness that they have no clue of what it actually is. Those that have not, envy those that have, & those that have envy those that have not.
In Casey Johnson's case, here was a girl that stood to inherit billions of dollars from the wealth that her family had amassed from the Johnson & Johnson product line. Casey grew up around Paris & Nicky Hilton. Casey was used to having whatever she wanted. Like most of our young "socialites," Casey didn't have a genuine career. Her life was mostly filled w/ shopping, parties, & other social events. Sounds like the life... right? Well, Casey also had a terrible drug addiction. She'd made an attempt @ normalcy by adopting a child last year; however, her drug addiction & lack of maturity caused her parents to take the child away from her.
I often here people say that they don't feel sorry for rich kids... they always mock the kids w/, "Oh, I'm rich, please have sympathy for me." & while the child's economic situation is better than most, their mental state, ability to understand, lead, & be a responsible person, rival that of an adolescent, well into adulthood. On any given day, all of their decisions are made for them. Their lives are planned far before they even realize who they are, & the consequences of life, in general. So, how could anyone expect a person that hardly ever has to think for themselves, to be happy, successful, and responsible? & how could you not feel sympathy for a person that has no clue, and ultimately, that is lost? Sure, the ultimate responsibility lies w/ their parents, but I don't have enough energy to open that can of worms... besides, it all revolves around my initial point, what was their beginning like?
Similarly, an impoverished child suffers the same; however, their circumstances are the result of not having access to things that are supposed to prepare them for all the challenges that life will bring. & even when this child is given access or an opportunity, the probability of failure is great. Professional athletes are prime examples of children that grew up without, but were given access later in life. Not all, but the vast majority of professional athletes encounter financial and legal trouble because of lack of education & preparation. Not to mention, a vast majority of them engage in drugs & other detrimental activities due to lack of real happiness.
People often assume that money cures all. But, money is only half of the battle. Money gives you access to enjoy luxuries, but these luxuries can only cure so much. If self-identity & worth are absent, then it's like throwing money into a body of water & watching it as it disappears. The presence of money brings on a host of other responsibilities & intangible pressures that can tear down a weak person. A person is then accountable for their image & also for the profitability of multiple corporations, whether it be an NBA team or a beverage company. Actresses and models have to maintain a certain weight & style to even be marketable.
In Brittany Murphy's case, the intangible pressures are what ultimately caused her death. Like so many of her colleagues, she became addicted to a medical cocktail. She continuously struggled to stay thin, turning to anorexia on several occasions. She'd recently began a new movie, and wanted to have a child this year. But, on the day of her death, she relaxed in her bath tub, & took what would be her last cocktail. Was this done purposefully due to lack of happiness, or had her body failed due to the ravage that was caused by the constant drug usage? No one may ever know.
& what scares me the most, is that there are so many people that are traveling on the same roads as the stars that have suffered untimely deaths... not to mention, these are the people that the younger generation considers to be role models. Why would you want to model your life after an unhappy person? Why would you pursue something believing that it will bring you happiness?
Happiness isn't obtained thru a career, a car, a house, a dress, a purse, a woman, or a man. Happiness is obtained thru a meaningful connection with yourself & those that truly care about you. You shouldn't have to chase happiness, b/c like God, or whomever your spiritual leader is, happiness is always with you. Happiness is as constant as the sun & the air that we breath. It's not wrapped up in some unknown equation that you have to spend your entire life trying to solve. & we should all have sympathy for those that don't understand these things.
So, I pray that people will stop chasing happiness. I pray that people will do what's necessary & not what's popular. Only then will they begin to enjoy the euphoric thing known as happiness.
However, this is only part of the issue.... the beginning starts @ the beginning. What type of home a person comes from, what type of beliefs or morals that a person has, & the maturity level of a person, are just some of the factors that determine how successful one can be, & how one will handle success.
Our generation, more than ever, is dominated by fame & wealth. Everyone wants to be rich, famous, powerful, connected, or important. Each person takes whatever slice of the pie that they can afford... from the ghetto chick that loves to rock Prada, Gucci, & Fendi, or the like (knock-off), to the CEO that has the multi-million dollar home, luxury vehicle, & never-ending wealth.
Unfortunately, the common denominator any each case is the lack of real happiness. Everyone is so busy chasing happiness that they have no clue of what it actually is. Those that have not, envy those that have, & those that have envy those that have not.
In Casey Johnson's case, here was a girl that stood to inherit billions of dollars from the wealth that her family had amassed from the Johnson & Johnson product line. Casey grew up around Paris & Nicky Hilton. Casey was used to having whatever she wanted. Like most of our young "socialites," Casey didn't have a genuine career. Her life was mostly filled w/ shopping, parties, & other social events. Sounds like the life... right? Well, Casey also had a terrible drug addiction. She'd made an attempt @ normalcy by adopting a child last year; however, her drug addiction & lack of maturity caused her parents to take the child away from her.
I often here people say that they don't feel sorry for rich kids... they always mock the kids w/, "Oh, I'm rich, please have sympathy for me." & while the child's economic situation is better than most, their mental state, ability to understand, lead, & be a responsible person, rival that of an adolescent, well into adulthood. On any given day, all of their decisions are made for them. Their lives are planned far before they even realize who they are, & the consequences of life, in general. So, how could anyone expect a person that hardly ever has to think for themselves, to be happy, successful, and responsible? & how could you not feel sympathy for a person that has no clue, and ultimately, that is lost? Sure, the ultimate responsibility lies w/ their parents, but I don't have enough energy to open that can of worms... besides, it all revolves around my initial point, what was their beginning like?
Similarly, an impoverished child suffers the same; however, their circumstances are the result of not having access to things that are supposed to prepare them for all the challenges that life will bring. & even when this child is given access or an opportunity, the probability of failure is great. Professional athletes are prime examples of children that grew up without, but were given access later in life. Not all, but the vast majority of professional athletes encounter financial and legal trouble because of lack of education & preparation. Not to mention, a vast majority of them engage in drugs & other detrimental activities due to lack of real happiness.
People often assume that money cures all. But, money is only half of the battle. Money gives you access to enjoy luxuries, but these luxuries can only cure so much. If self-identity & worth are absent, then it's like throwing money into a body of water & watching it as it disappears. The presence of money brings on a host of other responsibilities & intangible pressures that can tear down a weak person. A person is then accountable for their image & also for the profitability of multiple corporations, whether it be an NBA team or a beverage company. Actresses and models have to maintain a certain weight & style to even be marketable.
In Brittany Murphy's case, the intangible pressures are what ultimately caused her death. Like so many of her colleagues, she became addicted to a medical cocktail. She continuously struggled to stay thin, turning to anorexia on several occasions. She'd recently began a new movie, and wanted to have a child this year. But, on the day of her death, she relaxed in her bath tub, & took what would be her last cocktail. Was this done purposefully due to lack of happiness, or had her body failed due to the ravage that was caused by the constant drug usage? No one may ever know.
& what scares me the most, is that there are so many people that are traveling on the same roads as the stars that have suffered untimely deaths... not to mention, these are the people that the younger generation considers to be role models. Why would you want to model your life after an unhappy person? Why would you pursue something believing that it will bring you happiness?
Happiness isn't obtained thru a career, a car, a house, a dress, a purse, a woman, or a man. Happiness is obtained thru a meaningful connection with yourself & those that truly care about you. You shouldn't have to chase happiness, b/c like God, or whomever your spiritual leader is, happiness is always with you. Happiness is as constant as the sun & the air that we breath. It's not wrapped up in some unknown equation that you have to spend your entire life trying to solve. & we should all have sympathy for those that don't understand these things.
So, I pray that people will stop chasing happiness. I pray that people will do what's necessary & not what's popular. Only then will they begin to enjoy the euphoric thing known as happiness.
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