In less than a week, the unassuming, 47 year old Scottish woman on the left, has managed to open the eyes of two continents, perhaps the world. If you’ve been under a rock, (I know, I’m late in mentioning it), please watch her performance on Britain’s Got Talent: Susan Boyle, I Dreamed A Dream, Les Miserables. (Embedding of all the videos have been disabled). Didn’t expect much of anything at first, right? But, I can bet, if you have any emotions at all, you were cheering along with the audience by the end.

I’ve written quite a bit about pursuing your dreams and if, after a certain age, it’s worth the hassle. Susan Boyle is an unemployed, single lady, who has a cat and, from what I’ve read and heard, was bullied as a child, because she was quiet, suffered through depression, and had even tried to audition for others in the past, but never given the chance. Who, in their right minds, would, or could never, give this woman a chance? And why? Because she isn’t what society deems as “star quality,” or attractive.

She proved everyone wrong.

Not just through her talent, but with the courage she had to walk on stage and take the chance. The video link on YouTube, at the time of this post, has almost 12 million views-and this is only one video. The world is watching. I know I’ll keep up to date via YouTube, since the US doesn’t broadcast Britain’s Got Talent, (not on BBC America!!!). It just goes to show, the most precious of gems can be found in the plainest of packages.