Whitney Houston. Amy Winehouse. Michael Jackson. Isn’t it amazing that artists who touch our lives have such tough, unrelenting struggles of their own? The gift that was given to these vocal artists, creators of sound, rhythm and soul, became an Albatross that wore them down, leaving them hopeless, helpless and alone. The legacy left by each of them is staggering. Touching so many of us with the enormity of their talents yet leaving us bereft and confused. How could this happen? How could we not see? How have they been propelled in death to a stature not unlike the Gods in Greek myths while in life they were deposed, down hearted and addicted? Addicted!
Addiction. The psychology and the cause of addiction in the celebrity world may have more to do with the public life they have chosen then merely addiction as it relates to genetics. Addiction. It is never good. It is almost impossible to conquer. Addiction. It banishes you from the life you love, the people who love you and the dreams of fulfillment. Chasing you, begging you to continue, convincing you that without it you cannot be. Funny, it is really quite the opposite, isn’t it? Addiction. Without it, you can be! How is it that addiction and its muses have the ability to take the song out of the singer, rendering them silent?
We grieve. We mourn the death of our entertainers, especially the ones, like Whitney Houston, who transported us through her voice in ways that no one could. That is what creates a unique artist. She made it seem as if everything and anything were possible. It was possible to be in a church choir and be discovered. It was possible to get out of Newark, New Jersey. It was possible to look gorgeous. It was possible to make it against all odds. Addiction returned her to the very roots she tried to leave behind.
Addiction to any drug leads to a psychological death that takes place before the actual dying occurs. Whitney Houston’s death, and the deaths of two other icons, Michael Jackson and Amy Winehouse, reminds us that even when their lives seem charmed, they struggle, and battle with their own gremlins. The fear of making it and not making it is certainly part of the internal mayhem that contributes to the need to disappear into a drug state. The joy of watching fans as they become immersed in their music is in contrast to the internal struggle the artist faces while in a constant state of creation and originality. Find a release and find relief. Addiction.
When we think about any of the artists we have loved and lost through addiction, please remember your own family and friends who suffer from addiction. Don’t let them disappear in to the depths. Don’t give up.
Lets talk about this. Do you know someone who suffers from addiction? How did Whitney’s death affect you? Who have you lost through an addiction and how did you cope with it?
One day at a time.
