My Thoughts on ROLE MODELS

role model - a person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, esp. by younger people. (from dictionary.com)

There has been a LOT of discussion over the years concerning this term and exactly WHO and WHO IS NOT to be considered a role model. On the podcast I shared the controversy that surrounded Charles Barkley when he said that he was not, and should not be considered, a role model. This actually happened in 1993 and not in the late 70's or early 80's as I mentioned. (Wow, time DOES fly by!)

I agree with Mr. Barkley when he says that parents should raise their kids and not him, but, like it or not, he was still a role model. Tiger Woods - like it or not - is/was a role model. LeBron James (and the list can go on and on) is a role model whether he wants to be or not.

Some of these athletes, musicians and actors DO realize the huge impact that they have on our young people and they do try to conduct themselves in a way that shows this - but even they make mistakes!

We, as parents, have been a part of this problem. If you haven't done so, go back and listen to yesterday's podcast and read the blog for my discussion of our "Misguided Hero Worship". WE - as parents - must help our children, as they grow, to truly understand and realize who the real heroes are and who the people are that they should actually look to emulate.

People WILL disappoint! People WILL make mistakes! That's just a fact of life and we can use situations like this (the discussions for this week) to help our children and teens understand this. Hey, they will be disappointed in us sooner or later as they begin to get to the age that mom and dad aren't perfect!

Now, if I am going to rant about something on this topic, here it is: The people that claim that they aren't a role model and that they don't want to be a role model yet market themselves to be attractive to young people in order to sell their products. Many of these people will tell you that, yes, they are trying to influence the thinking of our young people - but they don't want to be role models?

YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!

Here's the thing - we are ALL role models to someone or to a lot of people. Scary, huh? But it's true. Yes, if you have children, you are their role model whether they tell you that or not and whether you want to be or not. It just comes with the territory!

Even when you think your kids/teens aren't listening to you - THEY ARE! Even when you think that your kids/teens aren't watching you - THEY ARE! You can be sure of that.

So, what should we take away from this week's discussions?

1. All of us, famous or not, need to take responsibility for our mistakes and stop making excuses. Remember, for every night there is a morning after! Know that and be prepared to face the consequences when we choose to make unwise decisions.

2. We all need to stop saturating our lives with the media's overkill on any and every subject. Is it really profitable for us to spend THAT much time listening and watching this stuff?

3. Let's all pay attention to and honor the REAL HEROES that surround us everyday and not allow the media to get our attention off of these people. Just because someone is famous and/or rich does NOT make them a hero!

4. Be a role model and help your children pay attention to those people around them that are appropriate role models for them. Again, just because someone is famous and/or rich does not mean that they are someone to emulate.

Again, all of this comes down to a choice - OUR CHOICE on what we allow into our homes and our heads. It's up to YOU to control this and to help teach your children this value for their own lives.

Think about it and...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Mike's Rant on Misguided Hero Worship

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I'm continuing on my little "rant" for this week and, guess what? I'm still smiling!

So far this week I have "ranted" about people's using "addictions" or some other "disease" to apparently remove them from actual responsibility for their actions, the media's "over kill" on these and just about ANY situation and now, today, I want to "rant" about our misguided "hero worship".

Again, I can't speak for other places in the world, I can only speak of what I see in the United States of America. However, from what I can tell, it seems that this is something that takes place in a LOT of countries around the world.

All of this discussion has centered around - or began because of - Tiger Woods and his HUGE mistakes that have come into light since around Thanksgiving of 2009. On Monday I discussed Steve Phillips, another "celebrity" that was involved in extra marital affairs that cost him at least two different jobs and caused him to enter a "sex addiction clinic" and claim that, because he knew the consequences and he ignored them he MUST be an addict.

The media has covered this thing to the point of exhaustion and, yet, I know there are some people in this country that are just waiting for more and more information on this - and other - topics like it.

Now, let me go ahead and say this ahead of time - tomorrow we WILL be discussing the thought of "role models" and address the question about these "celebrities" - "Are they role models and should they be held to a higher standard?"

You see, to me it doesn't matter if you are talking about athletes, singers, musicians or actors. Here's the bottom line - THEY ARE JUST PEOPLE!

Yet, for whatever reason, we - in this country - have lifted them up and placed them up on a pedestal because...what? They can hit a baseball or dunk a basketball? They can sing or play the guitar? They can act?

This makes it alright in our society for these people to get paid $25 million dollars per year for doing so? Really?

Hey, I like sports just like a lot of people. I enjoy watching Brett Farve and several others play football. I love watching Albert Pujols hit a baseball and LeBron James dunk a basketball. But, does what they do entitle them to be paid THAT kind of money and does it entitle them to the "hero worship" that so many young people - AND ADULTS - pour upon them?

My answer: NO!

Now, let me clarify something here - I have no problem with someone attaining wealth. One of the great things about attaining wealth is all the good that can be done by the person that has accumulated such wealth. Also, I do know and realize that MANY of these athletes (and others I have talked about) DO a lot of wonderful things with the money that they have received. O.k.? But that's not the point of today's discussion.

Here's the point: Does their ability to hit a ball, dunk a ball, sing, play or act automatically qualify them to be a "hero" for our young people?

Let's talk about the REAL heroes that are around us each and every day and let's do all we can to LIFT THEM UP and ENCOURAGE them in THEIR lives. And, hey, by the way...I can guarantee you that THEY are not getting the millions of dollars that these "celebrities" are getting paid. Yet, they are dedicated to their jobs.

Here I go again with another clarification before I talk about some of these real heroes. As I list these groups of people I want to make sure we understand that, just like anything else, just because a person is IN one of these groups does NOT make them a hero! There are GOOD and BAD representations in each of these groups. Obviously, I'm talking about the GOOD representations in each of these groups.

TEACHERS
Where would we be without our teachers? The GOOD teachers are dedicated to their jobs and do their very best to bring out the best in their students. They are often underpaid and under-appreciated. If your child has a GOOD teacher, why not take a moment and send them a note of thanks? What a great thing to do!

POLICEMEN - FIREFIGHTERS - EMT's
There are probably others that fit in this category that I am over looking but it is not done on purpose so forgive me if I left someone out. Again, the GOOD ones in these categories care about their jobs and the ones that they serve. They are there when they are needed to give protection, aid and, even comfort at times. They put their lives in danger regularly but do so willingly. They, too, are usually underpaid and under-appreciated. Do you know one or more of the GOOD ones? Why not tell them "thank you"? I can promise you that they will appreciate it.

THOSE SERVING IN THE MILITARY
There are countless men and women that have VOLUNTEERED (let's not miss this point) to serve in this way and there are countless numbers of them that are in very dangerous situations on our behalf. You may not agree with the politics behind those in charge, but you cannot fault those that are serving. Along with those that are serving I also want to mention those that are left behind at home to take care of a family or just to worry daily about the safety of their loved one. Salute one of these heroes whenever you get a chance!

OUR VETERANS

There are also countless numbers of men and women that ARE around us every day that have served their country in their past and ALL of them have been impacted in some way. Some with memories that they would like to be rid of and some with physical problems and/or handicaps due to their service. There are also countless families that have nothing BUT the memories of their loved one that served and was killed during their service. Again, salute these people whenever you get the chance.

I'm sure there are MANY more people that YOU can think of in the are of TRUE HEROES! However, the point is not to remind me of them - but to make sure that YOU let them know that you consider them a hero!

THESE are the people that we should be pointing out for our children, our teens and, even for each other as those that truly DESERVE the label of "hero" in our world today.

And, yes, some of these athletes, musicians and actors would also tell you the exact same thing concerning this topic.

Indeed, there ARE true heroes that live among us or HAVE lived among us. Let's get our priorities straight and let's get our focus straight and direct this focus toward those that have actually SACRIFICED and SERVED or are doing so each and every day!

And, as you do so, remember...


"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike