About a decade
ago or way far back, when you ask a kid what he or she wants to be when he or
she grows up you’ll get varied answers. Answers like becoming a doctor, a
nurse, a lawyer, a teacher, a fireman, a policeman or a policewoman. Kids from
decades ago choose a future profession not mainly because it pays more or
because it has a lot of benefits like health insurance or paid vacation leaves.
But it’s all because they wanted to help their family or the community they
were in.
As a kid my
greatest dreams were of becoming a doctor despite my fear of blood because I
wanted to cure the sick people, and a cashier. I had this crazy idea that the
persons behind the check-out counters were the richest people on earth. No, I
didn’t want to be the richest person on earth just because, but I wanted to be
able to provide for my family and my neighbors. I thought that if I were rich enough
I would be able to buy all my friends toys and other stuff. As I grew older, my dreams eventually changed
every birthday. I wanted to be a lawyer,
an architect, a teacher, and it came to the point that I just wanted to pass
the exams and graduate high school.
Kids these days
are a lot different. Their dreams no longer include being a doctor, a nurse, a
lawyer or a teacher. A cashier maybe, because like me, they thought that they’ll
be able to take home all the day’s sales. All kids want these days is to be
famous. They won’t stop at anything to be famous. All along I thought people
wanted to be famous because of the fortune it comes with. But even some of the persons (no longer kids)
on Forbes list or D-list celebrities wanted to be (more) famous. Even if that
means making and ‘leaking’ their very own sex tapes, or getting into anything
that screams scandalous and publicity.
Like Spiderman
said, “With great power comes great
responsibility”. And for sure we all know that fame literally translates
power, that’s why everyone wants it on the first place. I get that fame and
fortune is a package deal, no wonder everyone wants to be one (or both) at some
point of their lives. One of the advantages of being famous is getting
everything that you want, material wise. A mansion in West Hollywood, a penthouse
with a view of Central Park, a beach house in Malibu or the Hamptons or a
ski/summer house in Aspen. Jet setting
to anywhere in the globe, getting all the most expensive things this world
could offer. And the biggest advantage of being famous is that you can
influence people. You can use this advantage to do good, promote change and
make a mark in this world.
But when you
come to think about it, fame and fortune is not all it’s cracked up to be. When
you’re famous, everything is magnified. The mundane things or stuff a normal
person does, becomes blown up when you’re famous, it becomes the headlines of
the tabloids or gossip sites the following day. The whole world is like a
vulture waiting for you to screw up and relentlessly eat and peck until there’s
nothing left of you. You’re treated as if you’re not capable of emotions. And
the saddest part of this is that famous people are expected to put on a game
face even when they are dying inside.
This is the kind
of life people wants these days, no matter what it takes. I don’t want to be called
hypocrite and tell you that I don’t dream of becoming famous every once in a
while because I do. Who wants to pass up on something like that? But I’m also
just as contented with the simple life I’m living, so long as I get to help and
inspire people in my little way. But if given the chance, I’ll take becoming
somebody famous’ girlfriend or wife, it’s easier. That way I don’t have to deal
with fame directly. I can’t be Prince William’s wife, that spot has been taken
but there’s still one unmarried prince. It’s enough to keep my hopes up.
Photo credit: Nour-T
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