I have a lot to say about headlines in recent weeks from the Grammy’s and even beyond the Grammy’s. I decided to start with Madonna.

You will find Madonna quotes spread throughout my post today. . .because I’m the writer and I can. I was in junior high school when Madonna burst on the scene in 1983 with her hit Holiday. That was when MTV was new and when they actually aired music videos. I loved her uplifting energy and her style. There was a spark about her that I just really connected to.  It was her second album titled Like a Virgin with the title song blazing to the top of the charts that really garnished attention. With a title like that in the late 80’s, how could it not? 

I’ve never really lived a conventional life, so I think it’s quite foolish for me or anyone else to start thinking that I am going to start making conventional choices. Madonna

In high school, I went to a church youth group halloween party dressed up as Madonna. I don’t have photos - thank goodness. But if I remember correctly, I didn’t have any leather so I used trash bags instead. I don’t know what I was thinking. I probably didn’t care what anyone else thought either. When I look back during that time, Madonna was an artist that I truly connected to. I admired many; but connected to very few. I saw her as a true artist. Her rebellion against the establishment in her music and videos was inspiring. This quiet wallflower harbored an often rebellious, independent spirit. At that time in my life, I was struggling underneath the surface in ways no one else knew except maybe 1 or 2 close friends. But I don’t even think they grasped how much I was suffering. 

I grew up in an extremely conservative, legalistic environment. To even question authority or rebel against Christian teachings was frowned upon. I had the spirit of discernment at a very young age and I knew even then a lot of what was being taught as Truth was far from it. And due to my indoctrination, I carried a great deal of guilt and shame because I didn’t quite understand how the gift of discernment worked and I thought I was the one in the wrong for discerning something that went against what I was being taught. 

I’d like to think I am taking people on a journey. I am not just entertaining people, but giving them something to think about when they leave. Madonna

Madonna caught so much flack because she clearly rebelled against her own religious upbringing and as I watched her own journey, it gave me courage for my own. Her music is how I connect to that disruptor and rebel that is a part of me - to be brave enough to give a voice to it. I just don’t elect to sing it - for which my cats and children would say everyone should be grateful. 

As far as the Grammy’s go… She was criticized harshly for her appearance. Journalists reporting fans didn’t recognize her. Excuse me, but fans like me who follow her on social media did recognize her. She’s cultivated this look for months now. Journalists didn’t recognize her because they don’t cover her very often unless she’s on a stage in front of them. I’m concerned about her health - she’s very thin. She says she will tour again soon - but just looking at her, I doubt she has the physical strength or endurance for it. There’s more there that’s off beyond bad botox or poor plastic surgery. But no one takes the time to investigate that, do they? Nope, every keyboard warrior / hater out there was criticizing her appearance. 

I loved her speech. I felt like she was speaking directly to me… just as he did all of those years ago. There are people out there who need to hear her words. Of course, they were drowned out by the clickety clack of keyboards worldwide. 

Midlife is a beast. I was horrified by how many midlife women I saw in this mix of critics. Many women who really shouldn’t be calling the kettle black or however that saying goes. Why can’t women just support and encourage one another. AND then it repeated again with Rihanna and her Super Bowl performance!!! Seriously, people! The woman is pregnant and she performed for your entertainment. I don’t think anyone has an appreciation of the amount of work and physical exertion a stage performance takes from the likes of Madonna or Rihanna. But here we sit on our couches or laying in bed typing away over our disappointment over a performance or what was worn or what a face looked like!

Why? Why do we think it’s ok to do this? These are human beings doing their thing! We don’t have to do their thing! Why do we think we have a say so? They aren’t even elected officials! Turn the dang channel if it disrupts your peace so much you have to stop everything to tap tap tap click click click away on your phone or keyboard to offer up your unqualified critic of a performance or what a woman in midlife should look like. Just makes you look petty, jealous, and pathetic. Maybe it’s time to get a life and find a way to do life better. (Come on, Mel, tell us how you really feel!)

I’ve been popular and unpopular, successful and unsuccessful, loved and loathed; and I know how meaningless it all is. Therefore, I feel free to take whatever risks I want. Madonna

Be about it - don’t talk about it. 

Aren’t we all, Madonna? Aren’t we all?!

Do you have a story of rebellion? What’s your rebel story? Tell me! I want to know!