Apr 21 2009
Because we all dream dreams - Susan Boyle
I was sitting in Amazing Grace Coffeehouse in Duluth last week, when my friend Áine emailed a link to me of a British singer. Susan Boyle was an auditioner on the television show, Britain’s Got Talent. She’s 47, unemployed, never married, and lives with her cat, Pebbles.
Everyone was cynical, and seemingly against her when she claimed that she wanted to be as successful as Elaine Page. But then she began to sing - and as she wowed the audience to their feet, it was all I could do to hold back my own tears just watching her. This beautiful woman, who against all odds, showed the world that you must never judge a book by it’s cover, and that we should all be so bold as to go after our dreams - no matter how young or old we are.
Her Youtube video(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY) has reached near 40,000,000 views as of my writing this, and I’m sure these numbers will continue to rise. So many people had the same reaction I did. This very common woman shook our foundations and shattered the walls of loss, loneliness, and isolation that are felt by all of us at some point in our lives - and some of us, even nearly all our lives.
What a gift to hear her sing this song, and to share her presence - her very authentic presence.
I think of people I know who have dreams - oh heck, even me and my dreams! What is it in our world, in our society, that tells us that we cannot acheive these dreams? What is that force that tells us that we aren’t good enough, young enough, attractive enough, etc?
And then we see someone who can put a mirror up to our own self-doubt - our own memories of bullying, criticism, and those who cut us down over the years - and she hits the home run for all of us.
What a moment!
Thank you, Susan Boyle!
