Elizabeth Taylor, Hollywood icon
Truth to be told, I didn't really know much about her, just that my parents used to always reference National Velvet whenever her name came up. It's sad that I still haven't seen that movie, but my mother swears that I used to watch it all the time. So perhaps, more correctly, I've seen it, but was too young to remember the plot.
She was definitely an influential figure, a style icon, and aside from Marilyn Monroe, the woman that every man wanted to be with. Even if you didn't see her movies, she was recognizable and well-known to most people born in the last century and the beginning of the 21st.
About 20 years ago, there was a special on TV chronicling her life, so I learned about her tumultuous love life at that time. She weathered the media hounds well; and with her track record, I'm sure she was media fodder ever since her first kiss. I think that she did very well with her career, transitioning from the big screen to philanthropic work as well creating her own line of perfume - the most popular of which (I'm sure everyone knows it) - is White Diamonds.
There were two quotes from the article above that struck a chord with me. I will share them below with my thoughts.
"I call upon you to draw from the depths of your being — to prove that we are a human race, to prove that our love outweighs our need to hate, that our compassion is more compelling than our need to blame."
I really liked this quote and was very topical for me this morning. It is amazing to see how much people cannot get along - and over the stupidest reasons at that. There are days where I am filled with anger, wondering why I have to shoulder the pain and somehow ignore others' bad behavior. Most of the time, I try to turn the other cheek when I see injustices happening, but when it hurts me, my friends, or my family, it's hard not to react. I would like to think that I'm not a confrontational or hostile person, because I usually believe in giving people a second chance. Unfortunately, there are times where even a second chance cannot happen, because giving the person a second chance is like handing them a loaded gun with the safety released.
But despite this, and against my better judgment, I make myself forgive even when I don't think it is the right choice. In a lot of situations, forgive doesn't always mean forget - and I don't forget. After all, that is a human condition, no? So, in response to that, I am not a violent person by nature, but when threatened, I will have to respond accordingly to protect anyone who might get hurt. Believe me, I draw really deep into the depths of my soul to seek answers to my frustrations and questions. It is too bad that there are people out there who do nothing but hate and blame others for their mishaps, misfortunes, and mistakes. Ms. Taylor reminds us to be better people and to take the high road in tough situations.
With that, I leave you with a this thought from Ms. Taylor:
"I don't entirely approve of some of the things I have done, or am, or have been. But I'm me. God knows, I'm me," Taylor said this around the time she turned 50.
Indeed, Ms. Taylor. God knows we are not perfect beings. We are put here on earth to live life and learn from our mistakes - life lessons that are not always easy to swallow and digest.
May you rest in peace and find happiness wherever you end up.
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