Starting Over 3, 01-25-06 – Everything Is Goodby LauraBelle
Yesterday Rhonda put Lisa1 on crutches so she could see how she lives her whole life being supported by others. Iyanla forced Lisa2 to to wear an outfit picked out for her by strangers to show how she lives, letting others take the responsibility for her life. It's clear neither one are learning the lesson as Lisa1 tires of moving on her own on the crutches, and asks Lisa2 to put something in the microwave for her. Lisa2 dutifully complies. Lisa1 complains that her crutchs hurt, and Lisa2 complains that it's hard wearing this hideous unmatching outfit.
The new housemate arrives, and announces herself as Jodi. The first thing Lisa2 does is note her appearance, facetiously calling it "lovely." Take ownership of it! Jodi and Jill instantly bond with each other. Jill sees her as a big, powerful broad, just like herself.
Rhonda and Iyanla start Group and immediately get to work hearing Jodi's story. Jodi explains everything is good. Well, the question off the tip of my tongue flies even easier off Iyanla's. If life is so good, then whatcha doing here? Her parents divorced when she was six, and she has a wonderful relationship with her mother, after working hard on it. Her mom spent some time doing her own thing before that, but it was all good and just a crazy time.
Jodi and her father struggle with their relationship. She lived with him for a time, but doesn't remember specifics of this time. She blocked it out. Well, if you can't remember it, it can't be all that good. She shows a recent picture of herself with her mom and stepdad. Again, everything with her stepdad is really good.
As Iyanla asks who Jodi is and why she is here, she notices that Jodi is sitting with her back half turned towards her. Interesting body language. She refers to herself as independent, successful, caring, and a loving daughter, sister and friend. She has trouble connecting with men and is attempting to start a business in a career she feels she is successful in.
Iyanla wonders when Jodi will get to the point that she is thirty-eight, never married, no children, and scared to death at living her life alone. She tells her if she is too embarrassed or scared to tell her story, it will dishonor the other five women that are sitting amongst her, having already bared their souls. Iyanla warns her if she is not willing to open up, she should not even bother to unpack her bags. Wow, tough first day.
The symbolism is great as the show returns from a commercial break, showing a white picket fence. We all know what that symbolizes. There is always something hiding behind that perfect barrier. Jodi allows that she became the protector of her family after the divorce, protecting her mother from her dad's evil mouth. She protected her mother by clinging to her and not having a relationship with her dad.
Yet in all that time, Jodi wasn't seeing her mother for who she was. Interestingly enough, Jodi's mother was into drugs, just like Christie's. When she would come home from school, her mother would be sometimes passed out. Her sister stayed with their dad for five years until the craziness of that time was over and her mother got her life together.
A picture is shown from about eight years ago of Jodi sitting by herself at the Grand Canyon. She mentions she was thinner back then. Iyanla mentions that Jodi hasn't said anything about her body image, which she eventually admits she doesn't like, and never has, as she is too round. She also admits to having an abortion years ago, again shades of another housemate, as Lisa2 just admitted to that yesterday. She never even found out who it was that impregnated her. She was sleeping with a couple of men at the time.
Jill is just beside herself, and Iyanla allows her to speak. She says listening to Jodi is reminding her of telling her own story at the Starting Over house. She, too, kept saying how great everything was, yet her life was crumbling all around her. Jill says she has now learned you don't have to be someone other than who you are. She apologizes to Jodi, realizing it is supposed to be her moment.
Jodi's self-portrait is of a sun with a sad face. That's it. Again, the symbolism there says it all. Looking at that Kim sees herself, and feels like since she has been at Starting Over, that people don't see her like that. She tells Jill she tries to talk to her, but Jill doesn't listen. Jill retorts that she does talk; Kim just doesn't listen. Kim thinks Jill isn't interested enough to listen, but Jill says she is. Iyanla notes that Jodi's story is so powerful it causes Jill and Kim to be able to say things to each other they normally wouldn't.
To Fill The Empty Cup will be Jodi's goal in her time here at the Starting Over house. Iyanla notes it's interesting, as it reflects the picture of Jodi sitting alone at the Grand Canyon. Closing Group, everyone but Lisa2 is given cards from Iyanla that direct them to have Lisa2 do certain chores throughout the day. All things to teach her about not making choices for herself. At any time, Lisa2 can always choose to not do it.
Jill is the first one to give Lisa2 a chore to do, and just asks her to unload the dishwasher. She dutifully does as asked, and is afraid to say no and disappoint someone. Lisa2 notices everyone but her has the purple cards, and gets very frustrated being treated like a child.
Iyanla meets with Jodi and they discuss honesty and trust. Jodi says she has always been a do-it-yourself girl, wanting to handle it all on her own. Iyanla warns her they always tell the truth at the house and that Jodi has to remember that when every fiber of her body says that Iyanla is out of her mind with the requests she makes of her, she needs Jodi to trust her. When Jodi admits to not liking to look at herself in mirrors, she is sat down in front of a mirror, and told to write down everything she sees.
Jodi writes down things on the mirror such as "angry", "fearful", "unlovable", and "ugly". Iyanla asks her to tell her about the six-year-old Jodi. She says things were so crazy then, and not very stable. Sixteen-year-old Jodi was looking for love in all the wrong places, and sold herself out to men as she wanted to please someone so badly. The Jodi of today needs help trusting and just loving herself. Iyanla has her look herself in the mirror and say that she is tired of the care for herself being all up to her.
Iyanla sets Jodi's steps for reaching her goal of filling the empty cup. She already has a start on looking in the mirror of herself, but also will need to peel away the mask, learn to connect and receive and, most importantly "get moving!"
Jill leaves for her doctor's appointment, and isn't pleased where she is going, but is pleased to be out of the house. Jill sees Dr. Konialian who says he is going to re-examine her to see if the tumors are growing or not. Jill certainly hopes there is nothing else going on with her right now, as she can't handle anything else on her plate right now.
Dr. Konialian tells Jill after the examination that the tumors appear the same, as if they haven't grown or shrunk. He thinks they are showing the behavior of fibroid tumors, not uterine, although he won't completely rule uterine out. Dr. Konialian adds that fibroid tumors grow with estrogen, so the plan of action now is to cut off Jill's estrogen supply, and follow the progress in two months to see how that affects the growth.
Jodi reads her purple card and asks Lisa2 to go outside with her in the yard. She instructs her to climb a tree and begin counting, starting at one. She tells her she will come back and get her later. Lisa2 is realizing the point of all this, and that she should be telling her housemates no, but is afraid if she does say no, they will talk about her. Eesh.
When Jodi returns to the tree, Lisa2 is still counting. She says she is supposed to keep her there until she sees fit, but seeing she doesn't know Lisa2 that well, having only been in the house a matter of hours, she lets her off. They talk about the assignment, and how opposite they are from each other. Lisa2 depends on others for everything, and Jodi is ultra-independent, doing everything on her own.
As we leave the housemates, it's still the middle of the day, and Kim and Christie are talking about Kim not getting along with anyone, and how it's because she doesn't listen. Lisa2 is tired of the purple card game and is getting pissed. Jill is feeling very alone without any of her buddies, and calls Jessica.
I hope something is coming soon for Jill. It's hard to watch her be sad every day, missing her friends. We know she is having her big sentencing hearing pretty soon, and can only hope she will be successful and earn her place as a graduate among her friends.
What do you think of Jodi? You can email me at LauraBelle@realityshack.com
Interested in American Idol? See article on Tuesday's show at American Idol and see my blog at LauraBelle's Blog
For a preview of Survivor: Exile Island, see TV Guide Channel Preview
|
|
