Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow that talent to the dark place where it leads. Erica Jong
It's the dark place that she honored. It's the dark place that grabbed hold of her and wouldn't let go. It was a chance she took like so many did before.
The 27 club - Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison.
Literary geniuses - Hunter S. Thompson, Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, David Foster Wallace...
Addiction, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Dyslexia, Schizophrenia, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy... these are all diseases of the brain. NONE are a choice.
I see myself as a huge fiery comet, a shooting star. Everyone stops, points up and gasps, "Oh look at that!" Then, whoosh and I'm gone... and they'll never see anything like it ever again, and they won't be able to forget me - ever. Jim Morrison
Breath deeply Amy. You're in good company.
Actually, I tend to think that at least a few of those are a choice, maybe not made intentionally, but a choice either way.
ReplyDeleteLovely thoughts commemorating the talent within these lives.
ReplyDeleteMyrna
(Daily Spirit)
Ah... Thank you for commenting CC. I agree that some people choose death, but the catalyst is the brain disorder. I believe that you can't kill yourself unless you have a brain disorder. There are exceptions, but in most cases, as is Amy's case.. she didn't choose to be an addict (and/or suicidal). That is just my opinion. I'm simply a Mom speaking from her heart.
ReplyDeleteI think the choice is whether to succumb or to conqueror. In this case another real talent lost. But can you imagine the concert going on in heaven right now? WOW, what a show.
ReplyDeletePeace, my monkey friend... 20 minutes/day!
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Having grown up with a mom who was a psychologist specializing in brain and spinal cord injuries, I would agree with this. You have to be in a pretty dark place without any grasp on perspective to feel like there is just no better way than to end it all. We don't have to understand it and we don't have to judge it...just know that it's tragic. And that the more we know about the brain, the better off we are.
ReplyDeletethe discussion is so good! thank you...
ReplyDelete...well said. An honorable gesture to a life cut short.
ReplyDeleteEL
The Morrison quote says it all. The brightest stars often burn out the fastest. Whatever her issues may have been, she was an excellent song writer, a beautiful voice & ultimately, a shooting star...
ReplyDeleteHi Sugar. A sensitive post and a lovely tribute as well.
ReplyDeleteim not sure what else to say that everyone here hasnt already said so beautifully
ReplyDeletethank you
~laura
I never had much sympathy for her until I stopped and read this post, and realized the truth of what you say. She was somebody's little girl, she had both talent and pain, and her brain was not able to set things right. Thanks, Shannon.
ReplyDeleteLove you for entertaining the thought and releasing it into the universe. Yes, she was somebody's little girl. Sweet as sugar and tart as vinegar
ReplyDeleteThoughtful tribute and interesting comments.
ReplyDeleteThat first quote is inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThe night before she died I was watching an interview on Youtube with Mick Jagger talking about Brian Jones. He said that no one handles fame well, but Brian just couldn't deal with it. The next day when I found out Amy Winehouse died I thought about that. She had troubles for sure and I think fame just multiplied them and led to her downward sprial. She was a really talented person. R.I.P. Amy Winehouse.
ReplyDeleteNice tribute to Amy I paid her one on my blog as well :)
ReplyDelete