Paying Tribute

I remember hearing my parents talk about how they remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Along those lines of the passing of historical figures, I, like many people around the world, will always remember where I was when I heard that Michael Jackson died. I was in a Tee-Jay's restaurant on Hamilton Road, but that's a different story...

Last night and again tonight I have watched parts of several different shows paying tribute to Michael Jackson. On these shows, I have heard great music, seen incredible dance moves, and listened to heartfelt interviews. Prior to the tribute shows, most of what I heard about Michael Jackson in recent years was negative and, arguably, cruel. We all know the stories. His skin color. Bad cosmetic surgeries. Financial woes. Child molestation accusations.

But these tribute shows over the past 24 hours have been beautiful and touching. Clips of Michael with his brothers performing as the Jackson Five. Snipits of some of his finest interviews over the years. Parts of his legendary music videos. Fans at his concerts screaming, crying, passing out, singing along as he performed. For the most part, the tribute shows have emphasized the positive and really downplayed all the negativity that we had grown accustomed to hearing about the King of Pop over the past number of years. I have actually teared up a couple of times because the tributes have been so moving.

So this got me to thinking. I wish these tribute shows had been aired before Michael died. I wish Michael had gotten to see the tributes instead of all the cruel press that badgered him for so long. I wonder if he really knew how much he meant to this fans, to the music industry, to the people who cared about him. I think the press did a real dis-service to Michael with all the negative publicity over the years and thinking about the pain he must have suffered behind it makes me sad.

So this got me to thinking some more. Why do we wait until someone dies to pay tribute to them? Isn't it really too late at that point? Why don't we pay tribute to people when they are alive?

Why don't we make more of an effort to validate others, show appreciation, take time to think about them in the most positive light, offer forgiveness and the benefit of the doubt, express our gratitude, and make certain that those we love know we love them?

Why do only famous people get tributes? Why don't each of us pay tribute to the "ordinary" people in our lives? Think about it. One day out of the blue someone pays you a tribute. Tells you all the good and beautiful and wonderful and meaningful things about you. Wouldn't that feel so great and so encouraging? I think paying tribute would not only feel good for the person receiving it, it would feel equally good for the person offering it. Watch out now.... that kind of good will is contagious.

Maybe, for example, instead of sending commercially produced Christmas and birthday cards, we could hand write a few lines from the heart on a plain old sheet of paper to give to our friends and family telling them how much they mean to us. We could thank someone for an act of kindness they offered to us. We could call a friend we haven't talked to in a while. We could take some time to get together with friends and loved ones (if we really want to, we can all find an hour or two here and there, can't we?) We could share a funny story or memory. We could ask someone how they are doing and really care about the answer. There must be millions of ways to tell and show someone that you care.

But, why wait until Christmas, birthdays or special occasions to express our love for each other in this way? Today is the only day that's guaranteed to us. Why wait? Why not find ways, big or small, to pay tribute to someone special in our lives today?