If you’ve ever heard Michael Jackson’s song ‘Man in the Mirror’ you might think it’s all about activism and politicking. With lyrics like, “If you want to make the world a better place then look at yourself and make a change,” anyone would raise an eyebrow to the defying characteristic of righteous action this song exudes.

Three years ago, after the news of Jackson’s passing, I played this song on my iPod as a way to honor the late, great, king of pop. Even though I was only a minimal fan at best, I still needed to have my own sense of closure, however trivial it was. The song I chose to memorialize Jackson with (in my own mind) was one of my favorites, yet I realized that I hadn’t actually paid that close attention to the lyrics. Sure, I heard the mantra, “Make that change,” ring over and over again, but it hadn’t hit home until that day.

Reclining in my luxurious overstuffed loveseat with a full bowl of popcorn in my lap I heard, “I’ve been a victim of a selfish kind of love. It’s time that I realize that there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan. Could it be really me, pretending that they’re not alone?” How did I ever miss that? Was it because I was jaded by the 80’s-era of Madonna and Michael Jackson pop-infused dance floor accessory successes, or was it because so often we choose to tune out that which we think has little or nothing to do with us?
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The world was shocked nearly two weeks ago to learn of Michael Jackson’s passing. He was and will always be a legend and his music and dancing will live on forever. I live in L.A. and have heard hundreds of different stories that lead to his death; a couple of which are related to anorexia and exercising with his trainer, Lou Ferrigno, for six hours or more a day in preparation for his upcoming tour.

I was working at my penthouse gym in Beverly Hills the day he passed away and it seemed like the entire L.A. area shut down in disbelief. Word is that Michael had dropped to around 100 pounds, which is a sickly weight for a male, at the time of his death. (For his height of 5′ 10″ at 100 pounds, Michael’s BMI would have been about 14, dangerously underweight.) While the world mourns, Michael’s music is becoming more and more popular today.
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