Tiger Woods is human?
December 2nd, 2009
“Lead by example.” The phrase is used frequently in our society today and I really wonder if people stop to think what it really means to “Lead by example.”
Over the past few days the news media has gone into a frenzy over Tiger Woods allegedly having an affair (or two) and the world seems to be up in arms over the possibility that Tiger Woods has stepped out on his marriage and enjoyed the company of other women. Now, I am not condoning or supporting what Tiger Woods may or may not have done. His actions are just that, HIS. Who are we, the rest of the world, to judge what goes on within the marriage of others?
Before I go any further, I do want to note that I realize this all has come to light as a result of a car accident. On the positive side, no one but Tiger was injured (and he has recovered quickly). If this accident happened in the middle of the day and the fire hydrant had been a person instead of an inanimate object, things could have been much, much worse, but it didn’t and it wasn’t so with that said…
Why is everyone so amazed at the possibility that Tiger Woods, human being, had an affair? He is no different from anyone else in that he has the ability to make good and not-so-good choices everyday. Millions of people have relationships with people that aren’t the best match for them, but that is their choice to make. Just because Tiger Woods endorses products that the public purchases, does that make his personal life the business of the consumer? I venture to say it does not. If there is no criminal action taking place (ie: drug use, assaults, etc), then why does it matter what Tiger does within his marriage to anyone other than him and his wife?
Is it because the public feels cheated that the man they put on a pedestal is now showing his human side? Just because he was given a golf club and mastered the game before he was able to enter kindergarten, does that make him superhuman? No. It shows he has a gift and he enjoys sharing that gift with others. I am certain that there are many who have been inspired to take up the sport of golf because of Tiger Woods, in the same manner that many have taken up the sport of tennis because of Chris Evert or ice skating as a result of being inspired by Nancy Kerrigan. Yes, our celebrity icons move us to act in ways in which we may not have acted otherwise, but that still does not make them infallible. And it certainly does not give us the right to chastise them when they do something….well, er…human.
I do feel for Tiger and Elin Woods as they now have been forced to deal with something very private in a very public manner and why? Because the public thrives on gossip. Which brings me back to my “Lead by example” comment… okay, so today Tiger may not be the ideal person you want your newly-wed son to model himself after, but I challenge you with this…if you are one of the people reading the tabloids or who ran out to buy the copy of UsWeekly with the story on it’s cover, what type of example are YOU setting by showing your support, by encouraging gossip and innuendo, by investing yourself into the lives of others and making judgements about things you know nothing about – as I highly doubt anyone else besides Tiger and Elin Woods knows exactly what has gone in their lives.
Just six months ago it was all about Jon and Kate and their eight children, before that it was Britney Spears and the drama of her life and before that it was…well, I’m sure you get my point. Life is what we make of it and if we continue to make it a drama that has all the trappings of a soap opera, then we will all receive what we are asking for. On the flip side, instead of investing in the tabloid magazines or watching the gossip television shows, wouldn’t we provide a better example by reading positive material, watching inspirational television and movies and supporting our local charities in an effort to help others in need?
Leading by example is something frequently commented upon, but I am beginning to wonder if it’s real meaning, the concept of truly “Leading” is one that has become selectively applied to people and situations outside of ourselves? Does a celebrity really want to lead? Just because they are paid large sums of money for the work that they do, what makes them different from the general public? Watch an interview of an actor or sports figure, when they are asked why they do what they do, the majority will say “because I love what I do” and that makes them no different than the man who owns the bakery because he loves to bake, or the woman who runs the pet sitting service because she loves animals. The difference it that as a society we tend to put people who earn larger amounts of money onto a pedestal where they are held accountable to some imaginary line of perfection and if there is any hint of them being less then perfect, the media is ready to leap, using their cameras and newspapers to knock them down. I cannot see how that is fair….
I wish Tiger and Elin the best of success in working out their issues. Whatever is to come for them only they can decide…
Today I hope those who read this will do something to help another person have a better day as it is up to us, as an entire society to stop focusing on creating drama from the lives of others, and become personally responsible for making the world a better place. That is how change will come about. On the positive, when the world is focusing 100% of it’s attention on one celebrity, it gives someone like Meredith Baxter, a woman who lead by example as mom to TV’s Alex P. Keaton amongst many other notable roles, the ability to quietly out herself and watch the story disappear under the carpet as she returns to living her life.
EmbracingMyJourney L.L.C. was created by Caryn FitzGerald in 2008.
Caryn, known as "The Manifesting Queen" is a motivational columnist, speaker and writer, she has been featured in and published several books, including "Tulips In The Sand" "Fish Sticks, Books and Blue Jeans" “Manifest Success” “Visual Arts Junction Interviews” & “Online Marketing Success Stories..."
Caryn is a domestic violence survivor who has triumphed over a 10-year battle with anorexia and bulimia. She is a wife, mother, writer, speaker, blogger, coach and a health food enthusiast Click to connect with Caryn at her website Or click here to get inspired by her latest ebook “Living the Life of My Dreams” There may be paid links on this page, click here to read the blog disclaimer.
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Tiger Woods is losing millions and millions of dollars in endorsements because of these bad choices. Many of the companies and networks have an easy out of their contracts because of the moral clauses contained in them. It’s a shame how one moment can change everything in one’s life. I try not to read anything about the personal life of actors and sports celebrities because if I form an opinion it gets in the way of watching them in movies and on TV. Good points Caryn.
We all have enough faults of our own. We need to concentrate on the positive aspects of a persons life that we would like to instill in our own. If we continue to focus on what will make this world a greater place – Guess What – This world will be a greater place!!!
Blessings and Visions of Greatness Caryn
Brian J. Donley
Author, The Original Psychology of Success – Proven Methods to Attain a Positive, Powerful Winning Personality.
Thanks for the lesson you bring to us.
The best way to get out of these situations is to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Failing that, presenting the truth allows you to not have to remember which lie you told who and we have repeatedly been shown that it will make the storm pass more quickly.
Unfortunately, we continue to prove that we do not learn from others mistakes, so we shade the truth to put ourselves in the best light, and these things fester.
Leadership is a very difficult trait to find continuously in humans. We are imperfect at best. Our feet of clay show up frequently. But we also move past situations quickly as well.
For each of us though, what is the lesson in this for us to implement in our own lives?
I agree with this blog completely. It really is none of our business. Tiger Woods is human. Period. Who of us would want to be “role models” 24/7? Who defines this as celebrity? Europe got over this a long time ago. Let’s be good neighbors, wish them well and keep our judgments to ourselves.
I only think of Tiger for his Golf game. The media should stay out of the personal life IMO.
The reason it is no longer private is because he made it become public when he got in the car and plowed it into a fire hydrant, and then didn’t tell police what happened.
What example does that give for all the kids that he works with in his foundation?
If he had just been forthright, said they had a disagrement, and he got in the car and lost control and talked to police, that probably would have been the end of it. Instead he let all this mystery float around and speculation for days on end. The affair didn’t even need to have come out if they had just stuck to that story.Non one had to know what the disagreement was about.
When you are in the public eye to the extent he is, then yes he needs to lead by example.