The other day, I read a Q&A article with Lisa Marie Presley. As the daughter of Elvis, it has been hard for her to escape the legacy of her famous father. The press seem to always ask questions about Elvis, being married to Michael Jackson and Nicolas Cage, anything but her budding music career. The article highlighted her struggle to forge her own identity and get beyond the picture that tabloids had created of her. Lisa Marie Presley wanted to be known for her music not her name or her past.
Lisa Marie talked about her struggles to make a name for herself. Her first album sold well and has led to a second one. What Lisa Marie wanted was to be desired for her talents, abilities and personality. All people share this struggle because we always end up competing with something or someone to establish our identity. Children in the same family compete with each other. Students get compared with classmates. Workers have to measure up to what the prevous guy did. Comparisons are a necessary part of life, but they can also lead to unhealthy problems.
Before a person can establish his identity, he has to discover it. This can be a long process. Even as I edge toward 30, I find myself asking, "Who am I? What makes me unique?" A few years ago I used to think that I knew myself. But I don't know now. Life seems so much more complex. As seasons change, I tend to change with them. Argh!!!
Has anyone seen the real me? In a world full of clone living, where's Waldo?
