I was approached last year, during a hectic time for me, by a producer that wanted to look at following me around in a little bit of a ‘reality tv’ type of show. At the time it was flattering to know that he’d want to show my successes with MPD and becoming more balanced, to the world.
I am no stranger to TV, as you know if you’ve read this blog long, I was on TV a few years ago on the Mike & Juliet Morning Show. I had it linked but they no longer have the archive set up. Incidentally, my brother has a copy and I plan to link it directly on my site soon.
I got in touch with the producer and told him that I didn’t want that type of exposure, right then, due to my children’s ages and the public eye that some reality shows brings upon us. I spoke to my boss, then, also, and asked him what he thought (since I had previously told several co-workers of my diagnosis). He asked me a good question, that to this day I feel helped aid me in making a good decision, “how would you benefit from this show being put on the air?” and then he said, “how would the producer and others benefit, from the same?” basically.
I decided that I wouldn’t truly benefit, and as selfish as it sounds, I have to keep that in mind when making a decision that big. My children are a big part of me (outside children, not inside) and my life, and I didn’t want the intrusion. Also, the fact that many are helped by my blog is incredible to me and I don’t want to lose control of that part of my life. A show like that would be so exposing, I think, that it could trigger an imbalance and why would I set myself up for that when I’ve worked so hard to find balance?
Again, it was flattering, but I didn’t feel that others would benefit in the same way that they do by reading my blog, so I turned it down for now.
Would you have jumped on this opportunity or do you feel it would be another way for television to ‘fantasize’ the truth about MPD?