Thin-skinned monsters roam the Earth.
They are the kind of people who fall apart at the slightest criticism. Can’t make fun of themselves. Can’t stand being the butt of any joke. Claim to be strong and powerful but can only boast, brag, and compliment themselves.
I once worked for one of these monsters – thankfully for a short period of time – and it was no fun. When these cretins land in positions of power, they draw the most supplicating sycophants to their sides to further boost their unwarranted, fragile egos, thus creating a small army of awfulness and disgust.
Donald Trump is probably the best and most pathetic example of this.
This is not confidence, of course, nor is it strength. It takes nothing to say nice things about yourself. Courage is not required to boast and brag. Real strength and courage can be found in people willing to acknowledge their flaws. Speak vulnerabily. Allow people to poke fun at them without falling apart. Poke fun at themselves because they understand that everyone is flawed.
These are the people who impress me most.
On Saturday Night Live last week, actor Dakota Johnson embodied this strength and clearly possesses a healthy ego. In a pre-recorded skit, she allowed the Please Don’t Destroy boys to make fun of her for things people have actually criticized her for in the past.
Real criticism – mostly unwarranted but still authentic – including:
- Her soft, often monotone voice
- Her striking similarities to Aubrey Plaza (along with the implication that Plaza is a better actor)
- Her bangs
- Her archetypal nepo baby status
- Her past and recent box office flops
It’s not often that you see someone attain international stardom and be so willing to allow others to make fun of them on a national stage for the sake of the laugh.
It was impressive.
The fact that so many of Hollywood’s nepo babies bristle from the implication that at least some portion of their success came from the good fortune of having parents or other relatives working in an industry that often famously requires “a big break” makes Dakota Johnson’s willingness to acknowledge and make fun of her own nepotism so unusual and impressive.
Her father is Don Johnson. Her mother is Melanie Griffith.
Of course, she had an advantage over an Iowa farm girl who dreamed of one day making it big in Hollywood.
But unlike so many thin-skinned monsters with fragile egos, Johnson is willing to accept, acknowledge, and make fun of it. She can both make fun of herself and still feel good about herself. He can acknowledge the good fortune that helped her succeed while still giving herself credit for her skill, talent, and hard work.
This is a person who is supremely confident in herself. Comfortable in her skin. Willing to be the butt of the joke without lashing out at people, throwing ketchup at the wall, lying about their detractors, calling people names, discounting their enormous advantages gifted by parents, and endlessly whining about injustice.
It requires nothing of a person to say nice things about themself. Courage is not needed to brag about your accomplishments. Strength is not needed to boast about your self-perceived successes.
Those who endlessly do so are sad, fragile, and weak.
Johnson possesses the qualities we should aspire to in ourselves and the people leading our country today.
