I'm so grounded, it's sad.

The words of Patti LaBelle fall with a mix of humor, irony, and quiet strength: “I’m so grounded, it’s sad.” In this short phrase, she captures a paradox of life lived with discipline and humility. To be grounded is to stand firmly upon the earth, steady against storms, immune to the temptations of vanity and arrogance. Yet in her remark, LaBelle hints at the loneliness that sometimes accompanies such stability—the sense that in a world obsessed with glamour and chaos, the one who remains steady may appear almost out of place, perhaps even “sad.”

The origin of this thought lies in LaBelle’s own journey through fame. As a woman whose voice carried her to the heights of performance, she knew the intoxicating lure of celebrity. Many around her were swept away by excess—money, pride, indulgence. Yet she chose another path: to remain humble, to stay rooted in her values, her family, her faith. Her comment, spoken with characteristic wit, reflects the tension of being a star who resists the illusions of stardom. She is saying, in effect, that she cannot be carried away by vanity, and in the world of performance, that makes her something of an anomaly.

The ancients, too, would have understood this paradox. Diogenes the Cynic lived in utter simplicity, scorning the wealth and honors sought by others. To the crowd, his life may have seemed “sad,” but in truth it was filled with freedom. He was grounded, immune to the storms of ambition and the snares of power. Patti LaBelle, though living in a different age, reflects the same truth: that to stand firmly on the ground when others chase shadows may bring both strength and isolation.

History also gives us the tale of George Washington. Offered kingship after victory in the American Revolution, he refused, returning instead to his farm at Mount Vernon. To the ambitious, his choice seemed almost pitiable—he could have ruled, yet he chose simplicity. But it was precisely his grounded nature that made him great. Like LaBelle, he embodied the paradox: to be steady and humble in a world of excess may look “sad” to some, but it is in fact the root of true greatness.

LaBelle’s words also remind us of the human longing for balance. To be too far removed from the passions and vanities of the world can sometimes feel isolating. The grounded one may not join in the reckless pleasures of others, and thus may feel apart, misunderstood. But this distance is not weakness—it is power. For while others burn out in excess, the grounded soul endures, like a tree whose roots sink deep into the soil.

The lesson here is profound: embrace being grounded, even if others find it strange. Do not measure your life by the glittering illusions of success or by the shallow applause of the crowd. Stand firm in humility, in gratitude, in truth, and you will endure long after the applause fades. What seems “sad” to those intoxicated with vanity is, in truth, the strength that holds a soul unshaken.

Practical action lies before us: cultivate humility. Resist the temptation to be swept away by ego or vanity. When others chase status or spectacle, anchor yourself in values that last—love, integrity, kindness. And if you feel alone in this, remember that all who walk the path of wisdom have felt the same solitude. For the world often mocks what it does not understand.

So let us carry Patti LaBelle’s wisdom: to be grounded may seem sad, but it is the foundation of peace. In a world that trembles with vanity and restlessness, the grounded soul is the one that endures, shines with quiet strength, and walks with dignity long after the lights of the stage have dimmed.