On Saturday, October 19th, Cher was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rightfully so, I might add.
During her acceptance speech, Cher shared with the audience some advice her mother had once given her. Her mother told her, “You might not be the prettiest, you might not be the smartest, you might not be the most talented, but you’re special.” Cher said her mother kept instilling in her that if you’re down and out, you get back up again.
Cher went on to tell the audience, “The one thing I have never done, is I never give up. And I’m talking to the women, okay – you guys are on your own. We have been down and out, but we keep striving, and we keep going and we are somebody. We are special, as my mother would say.”
Here is a woman who started singing at the age of 16. In 1964, she met and married Sonny Bono. She and Sonny released their first hit “I Got You, Babe” in 1965. They then went on to release numerous hits and even had their own television show. I remember watching “The Sonny and Cher Show” as a youngster. They filled the airwaves with so much fun, music and laughter. Those shows were priceless. Not only did you get to enjoy their music and Cher’s numerous amazing costumes, but you also got to laugh at their skits and antics. I remember laughing so hard as they joked and poked fun at themselves.
After divorcing Sonny, Cher went out on her own and proved she was much more than just one half of a duet. She did the impossible and made a name for herself. After Sonny’s tragic death in a skiing accident, Cher seemed to return to her roots a bit and I would say she got even better. She would tell people, “I’m a good singer; I’m not a great singer”, but it was her stage presence, her fashion sense and her ability to amaze a crowd that really made her a star.
Cher has won a Grammy, an Emmy, and an Oscar. At the age of 78, she’s still actively singing today. In fact, she recently headlined the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
The advice Cher’s mother gave her resonated with her throughout her life and helped her to overcome a lot of difficulties. Those of us with Myasthenia Gravis need to heed that advice, as well. When we feel down and out, we need to get back up again. We may not be the prettiest, the smartest, or the most talented, but we’re special in our own little ways.
I’m certainly never going to be able to sing like Cher or make the kind of money she’s made, but I’ve accomplished quite a bit in my life and I need to be both thankful and proud of that. Just like Cher, my journey hasn’t always been easy, but with the help of God, I’ve been able to pick myself back up when I’ve fallen and somehow found my way back to the right path.
We often don’t give ourselves enough credit for all we’ve accomplished. We tend to focus on the mistakes or difficulties we’ve been through. Sometimes we even let ourselves focus on MG too much. While remaining cautious, taking our medications as directed and remaining active are important in battling Myasthenia Gravis, those things don’t define us. What defines us is our willingness to go on, our desire to do more, our penchant to help others.
When you’re feeling down, remember the words Cher’s mother shared with her. Despite being down several times in her life, she never gave up, but instead got back up. You can, too. You have MG, MG doesn’t have you and MG doesn’t define you.
One of the best ways I’ve found to help me free my mind from the difficulties I’m experiencing from MG is to focus on helping others. Maybe it’s just saying “hello” to a stranger you’re passing on the street. You never know what they might be going through and how your gesture may be the only kind words they receive today. Maybe it’s taking a friend to lunch who normally doesn’t get out. Maybe it’s volunteering. Maybe it’s comforting a friend who’s feeling down.
You may never win an Oscar, but you can always use what’s special in you to make a difference in the lives of those around you.