The Mother Of Invention Is Reinvention

From the first pilgrims who came to practice theirsometimes rewriting history itself. This is where I think
"reinvented" religion free from persecution to thewe can separate the winners from the losers in this
undocumented immigrants who now wander likegame of illusion and disillusion.No mater how many
Moses across the desert of opportunity in search oftimes celebrities nip, tuck, lift, or flatten, despite
an economic Promised Land, Americans of all agesadmissions of child abuse, multiple personalities, tirades
have always believed in the prospect -alas, the right -against psychology, and conversations with aliens, the
to reinvent their lives in whatever idiosyncratic waysgems in the rough that always seem to sparkle are
they choose, a trait that, ironically, has come to definethose who stay grounded in a sense of who they
the core of our celebrities and icons.When it comes toare.Take for instance Paula Abdul of 80s MTV video
controversy and pushing the envelope, no two peoplefame. It might have taken a decade or two, but she is
measure up more than the "Material Girl" Madonna andback and she continues to be the powerhouse she
Janet Jackson. Their fans have argued for years overwas as a dancer, but now she takes on the likes of
which one sends more shock waves and which is thethe press and "Simon" with the grace she showed on
more valid artist. The truth is, neither one has thethe dance floor.One of the newest and most delightful
singing chops of Barbra Streisand or the dance movesreinventions is Teri Hatcher, of Desperate Housewife
of Fred Astaire, but their ability to reinvent themselvesfame. As Lois Lane in the "New Superman" she was
has made them permanent fixtures in the musicstrong but vulnerable, quirky, but smart and on Wisteria
industry. With energy, hard work, and the ability to dropLane she has aged with grace and allowed herself to
jaws, these provocative powerhouses have alreadybe the clumsy mom who is not afraid to call herself a
become entertainment icons and it's anyone's guess"dork" publicly.From Martha Stewart who would not
as to what else they have up their sleeves.So what isknow a good thing if it bit her in the ankle (above her
it that makes it possible for some "celebs" to be thehouse arrest bracelet) to "J Lo" who was and never
rubber that everything bounces off of and others thewill be "Jenny from the Block" with her Prada this and
glue that ends up tarring and feathering them. WhyGucci that, one must also admit with enough money, a
hasn't the Crow known as Russell fallen from gracethick skin, and PR machine behind, anything is possible.In
for his violent outburst (allegedly throwing a telephonefact, you can even be a debutante of high society
at the head of a hotel clerk) while others end up beingwho made a porn movie, sued the man who taped it
one-hit wonders on Bravo doing reality TV with wifeand then was photographed buying multiple copies in a
and child.Almost all celebrities express a feeling ofsleazy adult book bookstore and still end up smelling
invincibility and the ability to compose their lives, tolike roses, or in this case like "Paris."Tinsel town has
reinvent the person they were to that which they feelcome along way since Plymouth Rock, but the natives
they now need or want to be, and some achieve itare still restless and waiting for the next mythical
several times over.It is an ethic the Founding FathersPhoenix to rise from the ashes of the red carpet.As
embedded in the Constitution, where before theyseen on CNN, FOX, E!, The WB and Good Morning
declared our right to pray and say what we like (theyAmerica as well as featured in The NY TIMES, SELF,
had to amend it to do that), ensured that we couldMORE, LATINA, INC and Entrepreneur - Joshua Estrin
declare bankruptcy and start anew without fear ofholds a dual MS in Psychotherapy and Human Human
going to debtors' prison. To be sure, while we like toBehavior from Columthe University and is CEO of
boast that ours is the land of opportunity; it's probablyConcepts In Success, a natioanally recognized PR
more accurate to call it the land of reinvention.But inMarketing firm for Fortune 500 Companies. He is also
the rush to reinvent, many celebrities may losethe author of the acclaimed Anti Self Help Books, Shut
perspective on where they have come from -Up! and Listen to Yourself!