I shared this link on facebook and really thought I should share it here as well because it is quite a feel good story.  Quite inspirational and a good wake up call as well.  I shared this with V and she was moved to tears (at least I think she was).  She’s been hooked since and have been following the fan site. :P

I can’t embed the video here because embedding has been disabled by YouTube so I’ll just paste the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

This is the story about 47 year old Susan_Boyle who went to addition on Britain’s Got Talent.  Before going on stage, she confessed that she lives alone with her cat, never been married and never been kissed.  I had read somewhere that when she walks down the street, kids would make fun of her and laugh at her because of the way she looked and because she was a loner.  She was also often bullied when she was young because she had a learning disability.

So when she went out on stage, she got the same cynical reaction.  She struggled a bit with a question Simon_Cowell asked her about where she’s from.  The studio audience whistled, sneered, rolled their eyes - the usual stuff they do when they don’t think highly of someone.

But then Miss Boyle sang and the rest is history.  She became an overnight sensation, topping UK’s most searched for person online.

The audience gave her a standing ovation.  The judges were shell shocked and moved to tears.  Simon was feeling so ‘lum’ that he is in the process of organising a record deal for her.

Now it got me thinking.  Why do so many viewers get teary eyed by watching her sing?  Even a macho macho man like me, almost got teary eyed.  Akcerli no lah! Where got!? :P

I think the answer is quite simple.  What Miss Boyle did, smacked me right in the face.  It was a wake up call.  A reminder of how judgemental society have become.  We only take notice of outer beauty, what we see on the outside is given such high regards - a beautiful face, a sexy body, cool and hip clothes, etc.

We treat people with respect when they are beautiful on the outside.  It’s easier to be friends with pleasantly looking people.  We strike up a conversation with that beautiful young woman (or person) while waiting in line but ignore that other person who live one floor above us when we bump into each other in the same lift.

When I was young, I only took interest in the pretty ones and didn’t even notice their friends.  Some of who I realize now, had a much interesting personality than their pleasantly looking friends.

Although I’ve vastly improved at my age now than when I was younger, sometimes we tend to forget.  I offer to take some clients out to lunch but make up excuses to some others when they offer me instead because in my mind, I am already subconsciously judging them.  I listen to the cool guy in front of me talk about football but ignore that uncool guy sitting right beside me who’s trying to do the same.  I stop to chat with some parents of my dotter’s friend but walk past some others.  I greet some neighbours and others I ignore.

All these I’m still guilty.  Even though I remind myself to treat everyone the same.

So the next time I see that lady in the lift, I’m going to strike up a conversation about her grandchildren instead of just turning around to face the door.  The next time the guy sits beside me again, I’m going to take an interest in what he has to say about Man United (even though I hate MU).

That’s what Miss Boyle does to me.  Reminds me to never judge a book by it’s cover.