It feels like at least half of the HEADLINE news today draws attention to the public exposure of the ”rich and famous” and their behavior.  Some of it is bizarre, some “funny” in a sad way, and some simply boggles the mind.  Yet, for those of us not “rich and famous” there is value in these stories because they offer us useful life lessons.  Three in particular come to mind:

First, I am being watched.  I’m not talking about “big brother” but rather those with whom I come in contact.  I know I’m in the regular sight-lines of my spouse, parents, kids, siblings, friends, enemies, co-workers and acquaintances.  Then there are all the strangers with whom I cross paths.  I was taught that ”if you can see the audience, they can see you”, but I’ve learned that even if I can’t see them they can see me.  No paranoia, just reality.

Second, it’s human nature to downplay / minimize / discount the potential destructive power of character flaws.  It seems that we come to a sort of truce with issues in ourselves we know we should confront.  The “enemy” looks too formidable, and we’re already using most of our energies just to stay afloat, so we let things go unaddressed.  There is one primary problem with that posture: cracks in the foundation ALWAYS get worse over time.  There are no exceptions, no exemptions and no excuses if / when the flaws show themselves openly.

Last, and perhaps most sobering is the painful reality that there is always collateral damage when the consequences of my actions come home to roost.  People I know, love and care for…people who love me and would have helped if I had asked…innocent people…trusting people…good people…old people…young people and children…people for whom I might have been playing some useful role…even strangers who hear about me through the gossip circles…when my stuff “hits the fan” it sprays on them all.  They didn’t ask for it, but they have to deal with it because I wouldn’t.  In the circus that some media has become it may seem entertaining, but in the real world it’s very sad.

To paraphrase the wisdom of a friend, “if you think the cost of correcting a character flaw is high, just wait until you get the bill for NOT corrrecting it.”