Newsflash: you can’t judge a book by it’s cover

The country (and the world) is enthralled with a frumpy woman from a Scottish village who can sing like a nightingale.

So I asked myself, “What’s the big deal? What makes Susan Boyle so special?” The answer lies in the fact that everyone loves an underdog. But, by definition, being an underdog means that there’s something apparently insurmountable overshadowing the path to success. What was this 47-year -old, single, self-avowed cat lady’s insurmountable obstacle? Apparently herself.

We all have to overcome our own doubts, fears, and inhibitions from time to time in order to wrest ourselves from the rut of ourselves and make a new self more like the self we want to be. Surely Ms. Boyle struggled with all of this as she decided to participate in the Britain’s Got Talent auditions. But that’s not the insurmountable obstacle I’m talking about.

There are thousands upon thousands of people in the world who have a natural singing talent. They open their mouths and angels weep. It’s not really that uncommon. So why is Susan Boyle so special? Susan Boyle’s insurmountable object–the thing threatening to prevent her success–was other peoples’ opinions of her. No one expected her to have anything worthwhile to offer because her appearance contradicted popular notions of grace, beauty, eloquence, talent, ability, etc.

Wrong? … Right? … Food for thought.