As I watched the memorial service for Michael Jackson and began to reflect back on the numerous tributes that have been shared since he passed away, I felt it was time to share my own thoughts. While I’ll never have a true picture of who he was as a person, I can sincerely say that Michael Jackson played a profound role in my development as the Fly Guy. Of all that I gleaned from his life and music, three profound lessons of love continue to stick with me to this day.

Lesson of Love #1 You Should Always Think Before You Speak

Song: All I Do Is Think Of You

Lyrics:
I begin to take the long way home
So I can be alone
To think of how to say
You’re fine in every way
Hey, I’m in love with you
I think the world of you
Oh, won’t you please, please be mine

Fly Perspective: I’ve always been a straight shooter when it came to my feelings for a woman. If I felt it, then I would say it … that’s just the way I operated. I felt like the more honest I was, the more a woman would respect and appreciate my feelings.

But that’s not necessarily the truth.

In “All I Do Is Think Of You,” Michael took time to reflect on his feelings before sharing them. In turn, I began to slow down and think about what I was feeling, and how I could express it in a better way. Once I did that, my thoughts were relayed more poignantly, and the response I received was more favorable.

Lesson of Love # 2 It’s Takes A Real Man To Admit When He’s Wrong

Song: I Wanna Be Where You Are

Lyrics:
Please don’t close the door to our future
There’s so many things we haven’t tried
I could love you better than I used to
And give you all the love I have inside

Fly Perspective: I had a problem with pride … hell, everyone knew it. So if I walked away from a relationship, there was no turning back … no matter how bad I may have wanted to stay.

I can’t tell you how many times I let pride prevent me from giving a relationship another try. “I Wanna Be Where You Are” gave me a new perspective though. It made it OK to look my woman in the eyes and say, “I don’t care about any of the mess from our past … I just wanna be where you are.”

That shift in thinking made me a better man.

Lesson of Love # 3 Love With Everything That You’ve Got

Song: Got To Be There

Lyrics:
Got to be there
In the morning
When she says hello to the world
Got to be there
Bring her good times
And show her that she’s my girl
Oh what a feeling there’ll be
The moment I know she loves me
cause when I look in her eyes I realize
I need her sharing her world beside me

Fly Perspective:
Life is short—the loss of MJ certainly reinforces that notion. Having said that, there’s really no reason to save or ration the love that you have for your significant other. When you find a person that makes your heart sing, then love them with everything that you’ve got.

I mean that.

From the time the sun rises until it sets, don’t take any moment for granted with a loved one. I used to say, “oh she knows how I feel.” And she may have. But there was so much that I could have done—I’m sure in all of my relationships—to express my love more vividly. I know that now.

Fly Reflections:

Dear Michael,

I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and pick the brains of some of the world’s biggest celebrities. And while I was always holding out hope that I would one day interview the biggest celebrity of them all, I now realize that day will never come.

But even without that chance, I still want to sincerely thank you for the contributions both to the world and to my ability to be the flyest of guys. Rest in Peace.

The Fly Guy