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November 19, 2010

Category: Best Of, Real Talk

3 Life Lessons from Dancing With The Stars

After Tuesday night’s shocking results on “Dancing With The Stars” where top-scoring Brandy and her partner Maks got the boot, folks all across America have been going berserk. One man in Wisconsin even shot his television and pointed the gun at his wife in a state of rage. Personally, I was over DWTS years ago when Mel B. lost. Homegirl was doing splits, executed the fox trot like a pro and twirled around like she had Mop Glow dripping from her stilettos. She was the smoothest, baddest B on the floor. When she lost I screamed racism, sexism, and haterism. I realized then that DWTS is about a lot of things, least of them all, dancing, skills and prowess. So before we pull another shotty off and to diffuse some of the blogosphere buckshot aimed for DWTS here are three things we can actually learn from “Dancing With The Stars” that we can apply to our everyday lives:

1.) As much as I hate to admit, especially out loud, Life, not all of it, but quite a bit of it, is one big popularity contest. Brandy danced her tail-feather off and she still got eliminated, not because she lacked the ability, not because she wasn’t stellar, not because her footwork didn’t rival Fred Astaire, Usher or a Save The Last Dance stunt-double because everyone in America knows that she was all that! She just wasn’t backed by the Tea Party and as many a Democrat can tell you, that means something nowadays.

And popularity can be such a tough concept to accept. Growing-up I learned the hard way that the early bird may catch the worm, but the popular pigeon who may not have been punctual, smart or talented, never flew alone (thus your ‘birds of a feather’ expression). I was never the popular girl. Well maybe in my church, but being the popular church girl surely counteracted any juice I may have gotten elsewhere. I didn’t have a crew. My Smartbeep pager was rarely blowin up. I had the best reading and math scores, could play a mean game of handball and chess and was legendary in double-dutch, but yet and still I was picked-on and teased and spent a great deal of time alone. As a matter of fact I still do, but now I’m not phased by the popularity contest so many folks like to call “friendly competition” or my favorite: Tastemaking. Besides I’m more into hotness and making sure my inner fire is inspired and blazed. The lesson here is being popular does indeed hold weight, the question you have to ask yourself is how much of that weight are you willing to carry around on your back! I don’t know ’bout you Bran, but I’m taking a page outta Drake’s book and doing me.

2.) When faced with defeat its okay to cry, but always keep your head-up and be graceful and be ready to dance again. I love Brandy’s expression when she heard the news that she was out of the competition. It was genuine. She grimaced with heartache and disbelief. She wasn’t fake smiling cuz those kinda Mary Poppin gestures when ish is thick will lead to high blood pressure, water pills, and possible cardiac arrest. I say keep it real, but keep it together. She cried her tears, but had the stamina, guts and grace to get back on the floor and dance again. When situations and relationships don’t work out as planned and we are face to face with disappointment, it’s okay to get upset, shed some tears, and vent our rage, but be ready to pick up your bottom lip and tango like there’s no tomorrow. Life is full of disappointments, it’s how we respond to these moments that truly define us and make us better.

3.) Anybody can be a somebody and everybody can be a star. The show is called “Dancing With The Star”s yet I’m totally puzzled on what makes Bristol Palin a star. What movie has she starred in? For what professional sports team or event has she competed? What CD did she release? In what Broadway play or television series did she appear? If she’s a star then baby, I’m a star too! You feel me? Whenever you are having a moment and feeling undervalued or like your boss or your man or your wife is taking you for granted, just sit directly under your halogen lamp, err spotlight and whisper, “Baby, I’m a star. Might not know it now. I don’t want to stop til I reach the top. Sing it.” Feeling gutsy? Wear a ruffled blouse and announce it on the PA system, while licking the back of your hand. I guarantee you will feel pretty awesome afterwards. And oh yeah every time you use your debit or credit card and they ask you for your signature write ‘best wishes’ on the receipt and sign your name like you are autographing a professional photo of yourself. Heck when I’m feeling especially grande I even personalize the merchant receipts with a Dear Marshall’s: Best Wishes or Hey Bloomies: All my love! If Snookie, Phaedra, and Bristol can be stars, then we all sure as hell can be stars too!

Tags: Brandy, Bristol Palin, Dancing With The Stars, DWTS, Maks, Mel B, Sarah Palin, television