Jail House Rock

One of my favorite shows is Be Good, Johnny Weir, for so many reasons. Not everyone has the raging boner-er-admiration for him that I do I'm sure, particularly the skating officials (or skating Nazis as I lovingly refer to them) that think he's a loose cannon for loose cannon's sake. They're mistaken. Despite any resistance or attack he's on the receiving end of at every turn-pun intended-he's one of the most comfortable-in-his-own-skin people I've ever known of. You can see it in his eyes, hear it in his intelligent voice.

J-Dub is a naturally talented spitfire, an honest, classy artist. He's a dreamboat and a saucy minx, but always with gratitude and kindness. If you aren't picking up what he's putting down, it ain't no thang. He's been himself long enough for it not to matter and it's beautiful. I eat up all the exposure he accumulates with a spoon, because he's got the backbone to back it up, and it confirms what I always suspected before this show, before his documentary. He doesn't compromise his essence. He's more of a relevant role model for that fact alone than all the Wheaties box athletes that usurp his medals (I'm looking at you, Lysacek). Inspiration is harder to glean from someone that plays it safe. They have everything to lose if asked out on any limb.



Anyone who's a beautiful and unique snowflake (if you didn't get that Fight Club reference, I shame thee) knows how trying it is to express the light from within and not be punished in some way on the daily. I think it starts around junior high age, insecurity ravaging us all to take the path of least resistance and pretend we're happy to be who everyone wants us to be.



It takes strong resolve to be considered the whack job, as it is the worst kind of vampirism to intend suppression of bold individuality, to angrily or violently fear what you don't know/agree with and insist others heft the bill. The good news however is that if you are unflinching genuine article from the heart, you'll attract others to that effect. Speaking from experience, "fitting in" pales in comparison to fitting within yourself. Even if it's lonely at times, express your unique perspective in whatever way you want, lest your contentment will always be subject to someone else. How very limiting.



Another fellow rebel JFK, said, "Conformity is the enemy of thought, and the jailer of freedom". I have a handwritten poster of that quote on my fridge, so in my toughest moments of misunderstanding from others, I remember to be strong and stick to being me. Even if you pay the ultimate price for your slant on things as he did, at least you lived without confines, your thoughts were your own. Nobody can take that from you, so let that freak flag flap gallantly in the breeze, baby.