Sunday, December 02, 2007 Singlestalk: Rejection By Darwin John Moises and Michelle Mendez-Palmares & Singlestalk
M: Rejection sucks! On reality TV we see how aspiring actors, singers, dancers, models, designers or wannabe celebrities get booted out after receiving a review/evaluation/comment or simply criticism, not even a constructive one, of their performance. It must hurt even more when millions are privy to one’s humiliation. But look what an ounce of perseverance, self-determination and a thick hide can accomplish—singing or movie contracts, reality TV shows, product endorsements plus legions of adoring fans!
DJ: With the influx of reality-based TV shows, we’ve been witnesses to on-cam, unedited rejection rites. Rejection often is a struggle to many. But with the sudden influx of my once rejected but never shy comrades, the promised deliverance for nerds like me is now at hand.
M: But you know what? The bright and the beautiful do not automatically become the top choices. There has got to be something more that sets one apart from the rest of the herd. We’re all unique individuals but a gung-ho attitude and unwavering belief in oneself can make all the difference between success and failure. If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again! However, one should also learn when to give it up and let go.
DJ: Men are never immune to rejections. Lining up for appointments only to be informed she has a headache is nothing new to some of us. Constant exposure of being on the wait list for months is a good practice in itself! Some of us have experienced searching every nook and cranny in Ayala for the perfect stuffed toy only to find out later on that she has asthma. How about saving every peso for that perfect dinner only to be told that she is full? I’ve been there. Ouch!
Once I was voted out on the account that I’m like, a hero; a national hero.
While I was flattered to know I might have the features and intelligence of Jose Rizal, I wasn’t glad to be identified with his stone faced monument.
M: DJ, you don’t look like Jose Rizal at all! But beauty or the lack of it is said to be in the eye of the beholder. Rizal was found to be attractive by many women at his time. He was quite a charmer and a ladies man, I think, if my history lessons serve me right. Shallow is the person who bases another’s worth merely on looks. It can be deceiving. Women are also scared of and have been scarred by rejection. A common mistake is when we carry with us our list of requirements for a relationship and judge others too quickly and selfishly. An earnest desire to improve and learn from one’s mistakes can make rejection a driving force for a better life. For all you know, your “resemblance” to the national hero can make you the perfect Prince Charming for a heroine—one who hopefully doesn’t have the fierce countenance of Gabriela Silang, complete with a bolo!
DJ: We have been blessed with the power to snap out the negative flow of energy emanating from the modern world. And we always have a choice. We can wrestle with the alligators or spend a time of solitude in a remote location to take a stock of our lives. Make the most of everything right where we are. It’s no secret that the solution to any setback is to make the best out of the situation at hand. A sudden surge of inspiration and encouragement could happen right in the confines of our own living room. While the rest are scampering for the latest self-help book, you can just to sit in front of your TV set, grab your remote control and watch Pinoy Big Brother!
