Michael Jackson and the Meaning of Life
by Ian Paul Marshall
“This is the moment. This is it.” Michael Jackson
I think that it’s finally really settled in for me, Michael Jackson is dead. The king of pop, the greatest entertainer ever, is no longer with us.
And no matter what you may think of his personal life or his inner demons, when it came to his fans, to you and me, he gave it his all.
I remember when I first heard Michael Jackson say, “This is the moment. This is it.” I had goosebumps. The Buddha within him had pushed through all the noise within the world and spoken directly to the very essence of my tender heart.
It’s now been a little while since Michael has been laid to rest which got me to thinking about what I’ve learned from this mountain of a man.
What We Can Learn From Michael Jackson The King Of Pop
* Create an experience, not just a song
* Be yourself, no matter what other people think
* Work with others and watch the magic happen
* Believe you can change the world, and use your talents to do just that
* This is the moment, so give it everything you’ve got
Create an experience, not just a song
I can still remember when the Thriller video was launched. It was more than a song, it was an experience, and I wanted to be a part of it.
I counted down the days until the release of that video. And when the day arrived I was glued to the set. Nothing could pry me away from it. And when the video started, I don’t even remember breathing. I was lost in the experience that Michael had created for me.
It was no longer a song. Songs are a dime a dozen. Experiences are different. They last. They stay with us. Experiences become a part of who we are and what we’re about.
So in anything that your doing remember that it’s more than a song, or product, or job, It’s an experience. One that can transform lives.
Be yourself, no matter what other people think
Neverland ranch, Bubbles the monkey, a red leather jacket, a sequenced glove. Michael Jackson knew what he liked and wasn’t afraid of letting us know about it.
Some of his favourite things even became cultural phenomenon’s. I wonder how many people dreamed and wished about owning the red leather jacket he wore in the beat it video.
Michael taught us to be ourselves, even if the world doesn’t understand it. Find out what makes you happy and share that with others
Work with others and watch the magic happen
Whether it was saving the world with Lionel Richie on the worldwide mega-smash-hit “We Are The World”, fighting over girls with Paul McCartney on the hit “Say, Say, Say”, or rocking out with Slash on “Black or White”, Michael Jackson seemed to really enjoy collaborations.
Sometimes it was odd ball pairings like him and Slash, or smooth combinations like Michael and Quincy Jones, whatever the mix Michael knew the power of working with others.
So if your stuck in a rut why not call up a friend and have a “jam” session. Bang out some ideas together. Get the creative juices flowing. You never know what kind of magic can happen.
Believe you can change the world, and use your talents to do just that
We are the world, co-penned by Michael Jackon, as of 2009, has raised over $63 million for humanitarian aid in Africa and the US.
WOW!
So what talents and gifts are you secretly hiding from the world? Is there something that you love to do that you could share with others and make this world of ours a little better?
This is the moment, so give it everything you’ve got
Spike Lee was asked what he learned from Michael Jackson while working with him and he said that it was “Work ethic.”
“I’ve met a lot of great athletes, Michael Jordan recently made a documentary on Kobe Bryant, and these guys are known for their work ethic. And as great as Michael (Jordan) was, and as great as Kobe is, Michael (Jackson) could give those guys a run for their money when it comes to work ethic.”
It would seem that Michael Jackson would pour himself, heart and soul into any project that he was working on. Whether it was a personal project for him, a dance routine, or writing a piece of music for someone else, all his energies became focused like a laser.
Not thinking about the groceries, or wondering about the weather, or what the stock market was like. No, none of that.
Michael was present to the miracle of the moment.
And that’s why he reminded us, “This is the moment. This is it.”
Thanks for the many moments Michael.
Source:
http://ianpaulmarshall.com/michael-jackson-the-meaning-of-life/