I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be married to myself. My husband Luke is married to a motivational speaker who loves to talk. A blessing and curse all at the same time. In the past week we have had some great conversations about looking at the positives in life, being grateful for what we have, and always striving to be better. Therefore, besides talking about current pop culture issues or highlighting a good TV show or movie of the week, it's important to address the main issue in a person's life today - their IDENTITY! So much of what I talk on incorporates having the wrong perception of one's identity.
Many people tell me, "Tina, it's too late. I already messed up." The sad thing is, some have been harboring their grief and resentment for decades. I think it's imperative that we take a close look at this statement. Without failure, we live a life that's less fulfilling. God uses these failures in our life to reveal himself and help us grow into a stronger, more mature person. The last thing I want to face when I leave this Earth is that I regret not living differently. When we "mess up" or make a wrong decision, it gives us the chance to change, ask for forgiveness, develop our character and establish a greater vision and focus for our lives.
The statements I remember hearing as a kid were, "Try, and if you don't succeed, try again." and "It's better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all." It's been ingrained in my heart and mind and I love informing our next generation that you are NOT the mistakes you have made in the past. You can have a fresh start, a new beginning and become the person you've always wanted to be.
By allowing ourselves to look at what we need to change, it gives us the opportunity to help others who might be struggling with the same issue or in many cases, to literally save a life. When we seek the help we need from whatever addiction or issue we are struggling with, we will find freedom, healing and realize that our identity is not in our circumstances but in who we were created to be. That, my friends, is true freedom.
Throughout the year I get some intriguing emails from parents and kids ranging from "I need some advice for a friend contemplating suicide." to "You HAVE to add this to your show." Well, recently I got such an email. A young adult emailed me a clip from Ashton Kutcher's acceptance speech at the Teen Choice Awards last year and told me it was a must see (view here). Seeing this immediately reminded me of the lifestyles I saw celebrities live on a daily basis while working next to them on set.
Kutcher gives a four minute synopsis of the importance of hard work and not taking anything for granted. That people should not base their success on appearance, but intelligence. Now I have to admit, Kutcher has the looks and brains and I'm so happy a major well-known and well-liked star gave this advice.
Hopefully this will make his millions of young fans (primarily women) think twice about what life is all about. However, I wish he would take his own advice and say adios to his $750,000 pay check per episode on Two and a Half Men. He is the highest paid US TV star. It's not his title or the salary that is shocking to me. It's the fact that he's making all of this money on a show that promotes a lifestyle that's completely opposite of what he claims is important. I know he's smart enough to know this. In fact, I think he knows his fans won't think deep enough to figure this out on their own.
I will be the first to admit, he's got the talent and he's got the looks. What we need is a positive role model for our young women to follow that lives out what they say. I'm hoping Ashton will watch his own acceptance speech and make some drastic changes in his career choices in 2014!
For more info on his paycheck, click here.
You might remember him as Chandler from the hit sitcom "Friends!" I read a sweet article on Matthew Perry several weeks ago in the People magazine about how he recently turned his beautiful Malibu home INTO a rehabilitation center. He knows firsthand what it's like to be addicted to drugs and prescription painkillers and wanted to help others who were struggling with the same problem.
During the highlight of his career, playing Chandler on "Friends" while booking several hit movie roles, Perry was in the lowest point of his own personal life abusing the bottle. In 1997, he checked himself into a rehab for a 28-day program to kick the highly addictive drug Vicodin. Once he left, his problems just escalated with big time use of methadone, amphetamines and alcohol to add to the previous Vicodin dependency. Four years later while on set shooting a movie, he had major stomach pains and realized he needed to get help fast or his life was over. Since leaving the Daniel Freeman Hospital in Marina del Rey, CA. in 2002, he has never fallen off the track again.
Now most of the time the celebs who glamorize drinking and drugs usually end up in rehabs every other month. However, to hear of a story where a Hollywood Star literally has been drug-free for over a decade is worth celebrating and being featured in the major headlines. Yet, Perry goes one step further! He literally moved out of his Malibu mansion and turned it into a sober living facility! Perry states that this safe, secure environment is one place where former addicts will find "true happiness." Matthew Perry is giving much more than just merely writing a check to help someone in need...he is putting his blood, sweat and tears into helping others on a daily basis in a very personal way.
Matthew Perry - I believe you are one of the top celebrities worth having as a role model - and for that...I thank you!
