Kim Lyons: When a Classmate Becomes a Celebrity

For the brief time I knew her I thought there was something different about Kim; she was interesting, and while she was always beautiful, there was something more to it than that; she was special.

It began our junior year when her boyfriend and I were talking in the hallway at school. Kim joined us and I was introduced to her. Like me, she was somewhat elusive; friendly, but lacking warmth. I surmised that she was easy to know on the surface, but that was about it. She and I shared a few things in common like being military brats and having dad's that were former fighter pilots and we discussed that. We also talked about cheerleader tryouts in the spring. I ended up leaving Lewis Palmer High School prior to our senior year and attended school elsewhere but I never forgot Kim.

Then, one day, I came across an interview with her in a fitness magazine and wasn't the least bit surprised at the lifestyle she chose.

Naturally, a few friends of mine would discuss Kim's achievements; friends that remembered her from school and together we would send each other a link to a new article or give each other a head's up to a TV event Kim might appear on.

I can honestly say that all of us were happy for Kim but that didn't stop some of the conversations from straying towards the predictable questions like, "well, she's done that with her life, now what have I done with mine?" Or, the inevitable inquiry like, "Do you think she's had work done?"

And while women in general can be catty, we were never malicious or resentful, but we did admit that seeing Kim brought up our own insecurities...but why?

Perhaps our feelings and conversations were stirred by feelings of competitiveness, regret, or feeling that because a classmate made it on TV, that she was more successful than the rest of us.

But is becoming famous or being on TV the true definition of success?

It depends.

Success is defined as the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like. Kim has achieved all of that through her own determination and hard work so she has definitely become successful in life, but what is successful to one may not be to another.

I am delighted that Kim has achieved her goals because she earned what she has, which makes her happy.

The point being, her...

I think some people fail to see that success and happiness are subjective and it's pointless to compare one life with another.

Would Kim's lifestyle make me happy or vice versa? No.

Why? We enjoy different things and find pleasure in diverse ways. Her life revolves around healthy eating and exercise and they bring her gratification. Mine resolves around what I deem satisfying and exercising to that kind of extreme or depriving myself is not my idea of pleasure and I wouldn't be happy living the way Kim does and she wouldn't be happy living the way I do.

My husband once asked me, "Have you been divorced? Have you beaten the odds? Do you have three beautiful children that are compassionate and caring?" He went on to say, "That's the kind of success that lasts forever, so be thankful." And I am.

Kim is very attractive but so are the women who feel 'beneath' her. I wish these women could see themselves the way others see them. I don't see Kim Lyons as superior in any way, including appearance. She works hard for it, some people don't have to, and others are average.

I guess I don't get bent out of shape over this because long ago I recognized that there will always be the rare beautiful, the many pretty and the majority average; but for all, looks fade fast, so why waste time being jealous when you can be happy with what you have? Beauty, and even success, are in the eye of the beholder and some people focus too much on looking over the fence and therefore, fail to see in themselves what others observe so easily.