Battle of the Stars

WARNING: Heavy stuff.

Have you HEARD the in-DEPP rumors of Johnny and Amber? As Sean Connery would say: “He shed, she shed the biggest bullSHED.” Surprisingly there’s a lot of interest in the lives of this Hollywood couple.

HOLLYWEIRD

It defies logic why anyone would want to become an actor. It’s a profession of pretensions. With a little makeup you are called to pretend to be someone you’re not. You pretend to be handsome or beautiful on stage and you need to keep appearances with wigs and plastic surgery off stage. To be true to your image, you pretend to be rich and successful so you buy into this extravagant lifestyle and feed the parasites around you. Because you are in a position of influence, you give endorsements and opinions about topics you know nothing about. Who cares what Bill Nye thinks about global warming? He’s not a real scientist. Who cares if celebrities threaten to leave for Canada if their candidate doesn’t win? And talk about privacy! — paparazzi stalk you in your most private moments. You are no longer a person but a property that can be exploited. Hollywood is a breeding ground for narcissists.

Such is the sad case with Johnny Depp and Amber Heard who parade their dirty laundry from the gossip columns and YouTube podcasts to your living room. Instead of settling their squabbles in private, their egos force a public showdown — a drama better than any fictitious telenovela.

A MIRROR OF SOCIETY

What is more interesting to me is the reaction of their fans. Most people I know have already made up their minds as to who is the bigger creep. With celebrity trials like this, the best actor with the best sound bites usually wins. (“If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit!”). The minute they decided to go to court, they essentially kissed their careers goodbye. Who would want to work with such prima donas? Who would want to work with a narcissist?

I am not saying I have all the answers nor that I am above all of this. Hey, who doesn’t want to peer inside the silly, useless lives of the rich and famous? I’m just saying we should watch ourselves — for the standards we pose on them (if fairly applied) should be the standard that we impose on ourselves. Are we better than them or is the log in our eyes bigger than the speck in their eyes?

More than any time in history, I believe we live in a society of narcissists. Narcissism is a learned behavior. It’s not genetic. It’s good that you are aware of this toxic personality disorder so you can protect yourself from the frustration of dealing with the narcissists around you. They will push you down into believing you are worthless. And most of all, don’t turn into one yourself. Many cannot change because they do not see the need for change to begin with. Can we see the narcissist that is inside us? Unfortunately, true narcissists never realize they are one. (If you need help in this matter, I know some people who can help.) How do you know if you are one? I found this definition of a narcissist:

“Narcissists can never be wrong. Their opinions are facts. Their feelings are valid. Their views are always right. This does not apply to others. Everything others think, feel or say is wrong. Point out a hole in the narcissists illogical thinking and you’ve just started a never-ending war. Narcissists will slander you behind your back because to them their lies are the only truth.”

CONCLUSION

Whatever the outcome of this trial, unless humility, grace and forgiveness is offered, they both lose. We all lose. And the fans will miss out on a golden opportunity to learn an important lesson and the great divide of opinions in our society will continue to isolate us.

“There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” — 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

But this is just me.

TGIF people!

Raoul

LEARN MORE ABOUT NARCISSISM
Dr. Ramani is not a Christian Psychologist but most of her studies about narcissists do not conflict with my beliefs. Here is a video about how to spot the narcissist.

And here is a link to her channel. CLICK HERE.

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA

Videos of the week

ENTERTAINING: Tinikling is a traditional Filipino dance with bamboo. My Mom was good at this. The Filipino students in Georgia Tech jazzed it up a bit.Thanks to Manolette of Canada for sharing.

FUNNY: Art of Sierra Madre shared this video about a bulldog and 2 cats.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Thanks to Lee of Bakersfield, CA

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to John of Connecticut

The post The Itch appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Millennials

Millennials. The very mention of that word floods people’s thoughts of irresponsible, spoiled, overly promised kids who are now full grown dysfunctional members of society.

That, of course is the negative stereotype (the video this week depicts exactly what I mean) and I would say it is fairly based on reality. Sad but true. A wise man said we have raised a generation of narcissists.

Narcissists are people who live in their own world. Who are obsessed with themselves and only see things their way. No use arguing with a true narcissist. What is worst than a narcissist? A group of narcissists!  They are loyal to each other and ostracize independent thinkers. Majority thought wins.

Are you a narcissist? Do you have compassion for people and actually do something to help the less fortunate? Do you accept your mistakes, seek forgiveness and do you seek ways to improve? Do you allow others to share their ideas? If you answered NO to any of those, maybe you are a narcissist. Boy, do I need to pray for you!

I had fun talking to some Millennials today. I wouldn’t say they were narcissists. After I introduced them to each other, I watched the magic of Millennial bonding unravel. They compared rings, boyfriends/spouses and Instagrams. At one point they were actually conversing and looking down at their cell phones at the same time. Of course I had to take a photo. I showed it to them. They laughed and went back to checking their phones. I was totally fascinated.

It may be true that they are all who we say they are, but I did not feel any animosity towards them. I just loved them for who they were. They reminded me of my own kids. I may not have grown up as self-absorbed as them but I must have had major character defects just like them. We all have our flaws. They’re trying to find their corner in the sky just like the rest of us. As patient as my parents were to me, I will be patient with them, help them process their ideas into tangible actions … help them become the best person they could ever be. Want to join me?

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  — Romans  12:2

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Mike of New York  for sharing this joke.

Naomi’s Puns

Sent by Naomi of North Hollywood, CA

VIDEO: Funny Exaggeration

Not all Millennials are like this — thank god!

Parting Shot

Thanks to Naomi who sent this joke.

The post Discount Bar appeared first on Traveling Archive.