Lindsay Lohan is used to getting any man she wants. All the little stunner has to do is bat those big flashing eyes of hers and pucker those sensuous lips and males turn to putty in her hand. Well, most males. Not all, apparently, are susceptible to Lindsay's charms. And some of them are downright cool toward her. Like James Franco, known for playing the Green Goblin's petulant son in the Spider-Man movies. He, apparently, has no interest in Lindsay whatsoever. A fact Lindsay discovered first-hand at a Golden Globes after-party, when she tried talking him up and he gave her the big brush-off. A rejection that was apparently devastating to Lindsay, since it sent her into an alcohol-fueled tailspin that ended several days later with her checking herself into rehab.
Now, I have to say, this story is right up my alley. Because I consider myself something of an authority on rejection, and the right ways and wrong ways to deal with it. First of all, rejection is a fact of life. A person will pursue many things in their lifetime, and the reality is that many, if not most, of these things will remain forever beyond their grasp. This is perhaps not quite as true for a rich and famous person - wealth and fame tend to aid you in getting things that would otherwise not be attainable - but still, even someone with as many advantages as a Lindsay Lohan is often going to come up against something, or someone, she just can't have. Even Lindsay Lohan, at some point, has to come to grips with the realities of failure and frustration. And this is where Crabbie has a bit of wisdom to impart. Because, you see, Crabbie used to be where Lindsay is in her life now. He used to be young and hot-blooded - too hot-blooded for his own good, in fact. He used to have insatiable appetites (for things other than pasta and chocolate cake). He used to think that the whole point of living was to set his sights on some target and pursue it, stubbornly, even obsessively. And, when he didn't get what he wanted, he didn't take it very well. He got upset. He reached for the bottle, and sometimes stronger stuff. He carried on like an idiot. Then, one day, Crabbie realized a few things. He realized that, in fact, it was silly to get so upset about not getting what he wanted. He came to the conclusion that his behavior was rather childish - that, in truth, when he carried on so much in the wake of his failures, he was throwing what amounted to a temper tantrum, the same way a small child does when they don't get their way. Crabbie was, in short, acting like a spoiled little snit. And it didn't do him any good to act this way - he still didn't get what he wanted. So, over time, Crabbie learned to deal with rejection in less excessive ways, and finally to become philosophical about it. Because in the end life is mostly rejection. And if you spend your whole life getting that burned up, you're always going to be miserable.
And this, kids, is the lesson Lindsay Lohan needs to learn. She needs to discover that life is not just about her getting what she wants. She needs to realize that, through failure, we learn to become better people - but only if we bother to derive wisdom from said failure. We learn nothing when we react to frustration by metaphorically beating our heads against the floor. So, hopefully, Lindsay will learn something from this experience. Hopefully she will use her time in rehab to take a long hard look at herself, and come to some realizations about her behavior. With any luck, she will emerge from her stint in treatment with a healthier outlook on life.
And, hopefully, James Franco will not wake up some morning to discover a rabbit boiling in a pot on his stove.
