I have to admit that I definitely have some love and respect for the amazingly talented Lady Gaga. Not only do I like her music but I really admire what she stands for. Being yourself, standing up for what you believe in and living in an world of inclusiveness. These are all excellent messages. Yes, she can be shocking, outrageous and a tad bit inappropriate at times and her fashion sense is not really my taste but hey, to each their own, right? She is bold and courageous and dare I say it, a great role model for young women.
Last year for our anniversary, my incredible husband took me to my first ever concert at Madison Square Garden, it was Lady Gaga. Her concert was mind blowing- the energy, the costumes, the music, the dancing, the sets, but what struck me most of all was her message. She talked about how she had once sat in the nose bleed section at MSG and dreamt of one day being a big star. She also talked about how she never gave up, even when people told her that she couldn’t do it or that she was strange or different.
As a mother, this is the message that I want to pass on to my daughters. They can achieve anything that they set their mind and hearts to. But so often in life we are held back by fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of getting hurt, fear of being different and most of all, the fear of failure. As parents we often try and protect our children from failure and hurt by making sure that we choose paths for them that avoid the bumpy roads. What Lady Gaga reminds me as a parent and as an individual is that sometimes the bumpy roads are the ones that will lead to the most rewarding ending.
My daughter has said that sometimes kids at school will call her “weird” because she likes to sing out loud and make up songs. Her response is to tell them “thank you”. She doesn’t want to be “normal”. Perhaps she is embracing her inner Lady Gaga and I have to be brave enough to let her do that. Being “normal” IS boring. As I learned time and time again in the classroom it is those people that are willing to take a bit of risk that will have the greatest success. Failure only makes the rewards that much sweeter. Being yourself and believing in yourself are the hardest lessons to learn and to pass on. It is a life long work in progress. I guess that is why I have love for the Lady, she sings it loud and proud and it is a message that we all need to hear.
On that note, it’s the weekend. I think we should all step into some platform boots, embrace our Gaga and just dance!! =)
Lady Gaga Subway entrance @50th St.
It's Always An Adventure 
Thank you for your words of inspiration. My daughter has always embraced her inner and outer “weirdness” and is always proud when her classmates notice she is not conforming to the norm. We have always encouraged her to be different, be her true self and most importantly, think different. A wise University Professor once told me “if we risk nothing, we risk everything”. Have a fabulous weekend!
-T