Happy Day, Folks!
I love, love, love The Masked Singer. I cannot give up it up. I watch it religiously. I do research on people in every spare moment to try to figure out who is “behind the mask?”. It is a show that makes me incredibly happy, challenged, and like a private eye, sleuth. Now, my husband is not a huge fan of this weirdly awesome singing show, and so he is not too keen on watching every week. So? This is a show that I enjoy with my sister, Elaina and second best friend (it’s a whole thing… story for a different time when you get to meet her!) Molly. Whenever I am traveling for my job, I stockpile up on episodes, so that I can watch them while I am away from home to have some joy fill my heart.
Now, I LOVE my job! I love meeting with teachers. I love having a team of people who are good humans and put students first just a finger touch away on my phone or email. I love that I get to inspire students and communities around their teachers and Agricultural Education programs. I really do love my job. BUT… I am on the far, reaching scale of extrovert. I love being around people all.the.time. And the truth is, when I am traveling, I have MUCH more alone time than I am used to and care to experience, quite frankly. I walk into hotels and bug the front desk people about the best social restaurants, where the locals spend time, and ALL about their life. I try to strike up conversations and friendships with random people I meet sitting in a pizza joint, at the hotel breakfast, and even at the gas station that I stop at consistently on my travels. It’s how I fill my bucket while I am away from my people, and when I watch the Masked Singer, my bucket it also filled.
So? What have I learned from The Masked Singer? Well… To be honest with you. My character has been changed by this odd, but intriguing TV show in three simple ways.
1) Never Judge Someone Based on What They Look/Sound Like
Now, this seems like it is something I should have learned in Preschool, and you’re right. It is something that my mom and grandmas told me quite a bit as a youngster. I have always been pretty judge-y. Not necessarily in a negative way, but I make snap judgements about people quickly right as I meet them… And being the person that I am, I usually give them the benefit of the doubt and think they are good! I don’t know a stranger, and people have told me that I am too trusting of others. This is probably true of my character. But The Masked Singer has taught me that good or bad judgement isn’t part of character or relationship building. Instead, it is about truly getting to know the person and their heart, character, and integrity.
In the current season, I have made many snap judgements about who they characters are when I see their costumes and hear them sing for the first time. I didn’t really listen to a ton of clues about the first group (Group A). And I was PUMPED when I guessed Lil Wayne and got it right! J My Mother-In-Law, Julia, was watching it with me, and she was amazed that I guessed him correctly (and frankly, I was TOO!). But then… I started really taking notes on the clue packages and doing research on who could be behind the mask. Time passes, and I am getting some right, but REALLY missing on others. Fast forward a few weeks until this week (March 11th). We finally get to see Group C. The characters all debuted, and I start to again make judgements on their costume and voice. I stop myself after the first performer finishes. We head to the second contestant of the night, Bear. I took notes on her clue package and quickly pause it before she starts singing (Hulu is everything to me J). I write down: famous mom who loves kids, loves hunting/guns, “Home Sweet Home”, mini van, skates, heavily scrutinized. So there isn’t much here, but I just type into google, “Famous Mom who loves to hunt”. I didn’t find anyone that I thought could match the description from the clues. So then I typed in “Famous women gun advocates”. And sure enough, Sarah Palin is #5 on this list. I think… the clues match. I am going to go with Sarah Palin. Then I play the Hulu show, and I hear Bear rap “Baby Got Back”. And I started laughing and thinking to myself… THAT IS NOT SARAH PALIN!!! I was completely judging Bear on the song choice.
If you have not watched the show and want to watch it, go ahead and stop reading right about here and come back when you are all caught up! ;)
Turns out. The Bear was Sarah Palin. I was right with the clue package, but because I had judged the character based on the song choice, I ended up not looking at the facts and reality of Bear’s character and what makes her, her. If I had really just stuck with the attributes I had written and research I had done, I would have been correct and guessed another one! But because I judged, I didn’t give the person the respect and love I should have.
All of us have something we judge about. All of us “judge a book by its cover”. It is something that we naturally do. It’s human nature. But to be Good Humans with Good Character, we have to look at that judgement and get to know people for who they are and what their character entails.
2) Your Journey in Life is NEVER Over
This fall/winter, Season 2 was happening! And it was my favorite season so far! I especially loved the Skeleton! But the Fox was the star of the show. The Fox was not only an amazing vocalist, but he was also a dancer, song remixer, and honestly the best performer. From the beginning, I had a hunch that it was Wayne Brady. Laina and I had talked about how all the clues, signs, and music was pointing to him because of our long history of watching Who’s Line Is It Anyway?. We had him pegged pretty quickly! And at the end of the season, it was Wayne Brady! (YAY for us!)
At the end of the season though, Jenny (one of the judges) said to Wayne, performing and recording music is what you should be doing for your life and career. Brady was of course flattered. And this showed me that no matter where you are in your life, the journey is never over. Wayne Brady is a talented comedian, actor, and singer. He’s also a father and friend. But his journey isn’t defined by those things. His journey is defined by what he makes of it, his actions, his words, and his character. No matter where you are in your life, there is still time to define your character. There is still time to change your life. There is still time to better yourself and others.
3) Kindness to Others is Everything
One of the best parts of the show to me is the way that the panel of “judges” or guessers talk to the Masked Singers. They show so much kindness and goodness to them. The compliment them. They build them up. Even if the singer isn’t professionally trained or an extremely talented singer. I love that this true kindness is shared, even when the panel doesn’t know who is behind the mask. What if it was someone that they didn’t like or get along with? What if it was someone who they had a grudge against? What if it was someone who broke their heart in 10th grade? The panel doesn’t know any different, and so they just complement the person based on what they bring to the stage and clue package about what message they want to send.
Kindness to others is everything! Even when you don’t know them or might not like them. I think that this is something that a lot of us have forgotten over time. We automatically react, say, or do something out of dislike instead of putting that aside to be kind. Even if you disagree or dislike someone doesn’t mean that you should not be kind to them. You don’t know what is behind their mask. You don’t know all of their character. You might not know their life and what they have been through. But you can choose to be kind to them.
Being kind doesn’t necessarily mean befriending or being an active part of their life. It means that you help to build them up with positive compliments or comments. You take time to ask how they are. You smile when you see them at Walmart. Kindness goes such a long ways, and The Masked Singer has showed me that we should be infinitely kind, especially when we don’t know who someone is.
Take the time this week to get to know someone who you might have judged. Take some time to look at your life and realize that your journey is not over. Be kind when you don’t know who someone is. These three things can help us become Good Humans with Good Character.
We’d love to hear how you are going to spread kindness this week! Comment below, and please share Good Humans with Good Character with your friends, on social media, partners and whoever else you think would like this little pep talk.
Let’s make a positive difference in the world by being Good Humans with Good Character!
Love!
-Em
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