We had this conversation at dinner the other night when we happened to get onto the subject of...gasp...Charlie Sheen.
As a parent it makes me cringe when I think that my kids are looking up to a guy like that who womanizes and is an addict. But, they love him because of the show he used to star in. So, when I said that I felt the guy was a loser because he is on drugs (maybe he is in recovery, who knows), is an alcoholic, and womanizes (i.e. sleeps around but Jennifer was at the table and even at that word she had to remind us that "I'm at the table, you know!") and therefore I don't think of him as anything but a loser.
They said: Yeah, but he makes lots of money, mom!
Ah.
There it is again. Curses to a society that we are engulfed in that places men (and women) who make a lot of money as Gods and are therefore deemed as truly "successful". Josh said, "Mom, how can he be a loser if he has been so successful in his career?"
Because I don't put THAT kind of emphasis on success. I don't think that people should be placed higher on a pedistol and awarded with the title and crown of "success" just because someone makes a lot of money. They can still be jerks, losers, and assholes.
You can be successful and HAPPY in your life and your career without the presence of money. That was kind of the point I was trying to get across to my kids. Not sure we are done with this topic because I do not want them to go through life thinking that in order to be a success you have to make a lot of money. That you can go through life treating women badly, drinking too much, taking drugs, being an inconsiderate asshole and yet if you make plenty of money then you are SUCCESSFUL and should be looked up to. Gawd. Yuck!
I also reminded my kids that Charlie Sheen got lucky. (No, we didn't discuss his luck with women, thankyouverymuch.) He got lucky in this career of his. I mean, for starters he had a famous father who was already an actor and I don't care how often these people change their names around or act like they did it all on their own without the aid of the famous family member, THAT FACT HELPS. Please. And, is the guy really that great of an actor? I get he is funny. And, I do think he is funny on that show, however, he isn't really acting. He is just being himself.
Then I asked the kids if they still consider him successful if...just based on this "fabulous career" of his...that he managed to shut down his entire show for a period of time while he was spiraling out of control and meanwhile hundreds and hundreds of people, hardworking people, were out of a job. Is that what success looks like? God, I hope not.
I want my kids to find what makes them happy...not forever chasing that almighty dollar. And, to realize and understand and grasp that being successful has NOTHING TO DO WITH MONEY.
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