Charisma

Charisma is not really a compliment when applied. It simply means that the person described possesses the kind of magical charm and grace, that draws other people to them. It's a kind of human magnet that, like it or not, pulls in others by the powers of this special trait. We've all been taken in, sooner or later, by those who have this gift, or perhaps, curse. The best teachers and politicians own such peculiar power. We find ourselves charmed by whatever it is that makes us unabashedly adore them. We've all suffered, or savoured, the effects of our enchantments. I can think of charismatic sorts who are unaware of their unique powers and while having them, are just as surprised by them as those who flock about. They learn to use the gift either positively or negatively. Examples of the positive sort, we all know, are among others, The Kennedys, The Royals and a bevy of Hollywood actors. Diana of the second group was a prime purveyor of charisma. Her beauty and doe-eyed presence took us all in. We grieved when she died and made her an icon of the sad princess whom no one understood. But really, the good works of this kind are done as well, by others and they are not so worshipped. Diana, simply, "had it" and even though other royalty may have been as benevolent, the public chose someone who met their need to admire a being, larger than life. The Kennedy family is another icon that bespeaks tragedy, power and wealth but who catch our attention at their very name. We are attracted by those who have endless amounts of money, such as the Hilton sisters and others, who adorn and adore themselves for us to gaze on admiringly and not without a lot of envy, or perhaps, scorn.  We love to consume tales of our favorite actors and their escapades. When one dies, it is like a personal loss. Why is this? It's part of our need to idealize and identify the harmless fairytale we can enter without cost. In our own simpler, less illustrious lives, we also find  icons to admire and want to be near, if not emulate. I suppose it is the Alpha Factor as in the animal family that makes it so appealing. But lovely as charisma can be, it is also dangerous. Not all of those we are attracted to, have our best interests in mind. Some of that alpha kind use their very strong powers to carry out  unsavory designs. The worst criminals we read about or see, often have this uncanny ability, to make others carry out self-serving plans. Gang leaders, political heads of state and religious fanatics use this power for negative ends. And even in our own social circles we know men and women who are not the friends they purport to be and when found out, are our greatest disappointments. But the charismatic influences in our lives that have us doing good, as they should, are our finest hopes.