Lance Armstrong and the Death of Hero Worship

Lance Armstrong joins the seemingly ever-growing list of fallen heroes. Virtually every sport has been infected with frauds and fakes. Business has as well. Let us not forget the worlds of music and Hollywood. Do I even need to mention politics? Here are a few examples:

Bono sets up a fund that raises hundreds of millions of dollars of which he donates a grand total of 1% of the monies raised. Baseball's home run king has been accused of using steroids. From politics, we have "Read my lips" to "Yes, it really is my authentic birth certificate." Those in the lime light are not so slowly but surely being exposed. The truth finally revealed after years of denial. Undoubtedly, there will be more to come.

Many expressed sadness, bitterness and betrayal at the actions of those whom we have lifted on the pedestal. Our hearts were with them as they sang our song or hit the game winning shot. We celebrated their victories as if they were our own.

Perhaps those are the real problems. People are going to make great choices at times and horrible ones at other times. We have all experienced this spectrum in our own lives.

Where we can make the adjustment is our view of athletes, celebrities and those in the spotlight. They may have skills or abilities that we wish we had. They may be able to achieve levels of success we won't.

The bottom line is that it does not really matter. Our lives are as valuable as anyone else. We matter. We count. We may not be on Fox News or American Idol or playing first base for the NY Yankees, but to assume that THEIR lives or accomplishments are more important or somehow more valuable than what we are doing is a gross error.

Lance did what he did. He will have to answer for his actions. In the meantime, our lives go on.

Today, I get to have a celebratory dinner with my wife for completing my 9th marathon. I get to have a celebratory dinner with my wife because she completed another 5K. Neither of us won or even came remotely close to winning. We will not be on the cover of Disney Illustrated or interviewed by ESPN. What we did do was participate in life. We chose to do what we wanted, how we wanted and experience indescribable happiness and joy.

The age of hero worship is dead. We will not be defined by the actions of others. We will not be slaves to the outcomes of a team or the questionable ethics of a politician or rock star. "Vicarious living" through the actions of others is closer to death than it is to life.

We are the stars of our own life. It is time to act in a fashion that brings us the joy and happiness that is our destiny. The era of living our lives starts now.

When the Super Bowl comes on or if Led Zeppelin ever re-unites, I will be there, happily experiencing the moment, assuming it does not interfere with my activities. I will enjoy it, just not be defined by it.