After a few years in this biz, I am pleased to say that I have learned a few things. For example: Don't sit next to Brandon the morning after he pulls an all-nighter. Always be grateful for the opportunities you have. Gargle with saltwater right before you go onstage. Laugh, always. Speak up for yourself-nobody else will! Be kind to your friends, fans, and strangers. Avoid most gas station pre-cooked food. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER read reviews or comments that people leave about you in public forums.
Guess which one I did tonight?
I am good with constructive criticism. If you can tell me what I'm doing wrong and how I could do it better, I am all ears. (I'm kind of all ears anyway, thanks to my genes..you should see my kindergarten picture..gives Dumbo a run for his money.) But I'm a little (okay, overly) sensitive. When I see other people cry, I get a lump in my throat (they don't even have to be real people-tv and movies work too, including that ad campaign Kleenex ran awhile ago..choked me up every 10 minutes or so). Once I drove past a homeless lady with a kid and a will-work-for-food sign and I felt so bad that I went back out 3 hours later, bawling, with McDonald's and some money and drove around until I found her. Not because I am such a noble person-because I'm a sucker for a sad story. And even after all this time, when people say mean things, it still hurts my feelings. (Clearly I am well-suited to a life in the public eye, eh?) Tonight I stumbled upon something accidentally. I was online letting my mom hear a version of one of my songs recorded by somebody else...a version I happen to love, for the record..and I made the critical mistake of scrolling down (ugh-I KNOW better!)...came upon an argument between multiple people over which one was better. And of course, though lots of people said nice things about me, the nasty ones are sticking in my gut. And of course, once I started reading, I couldn't stop. You would think after many years of criticism AND positivity, I'd be over that crap bugging me..which is why, for the most part, I just avoid it. But alas, here I sit, like a big old turtle without a shell. ('Cause I'm a softie. Not because I'm naked.)
Actually, just writing this is making me feel better, because now instead of thinking about that, I'm thinking about you guys and how great and encouraging you always are. Way earlier today, mom and I were talking all the hate in the world. Let's face it, people..life is hard. For ALL of us..no matter what color we are, how much money we have, what we weigh, and who we choose to love-these are tough times. And I guess I just don't see the point in putting more ugliness out there. Occasionally, when I feel like I'm sinking low, I do challenges with myself..I go 72 hours without saying anything that's not positive, or if I think something bad about somebody, I make myself think of 2 good things about them. Frequently I lose..but the point is, though I can be a jerk too, I'm trying.
This is getting really long, and I guess what I want to say is, let's put more love into the world. I'm sick of haters and unhappiness, including my own. Some of you guys will comment on this-it would be awesome if in your comment you could tell me something good about somebody..anybody..someone you know, someone you don't..so we can all share it. In the wise words of those poetic geniuses, Ren & Stimpy: HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!
And also, if you ever have a day where you are a shell-less turtle and you get stepped on, you just let me know and I will break their legs. Er, wait..that's not nice. What I mean is that I will give them a stern talking-to about turtles and kleenex commercials until they are either so bored or so guilty that they will never be a butthole again.
xoxoxoxo
M