My daughters are studying abroad in different countries this semester, and over Easter weekend, they met up and attended a concert featuring Dean Lewis (Don’t feel bad if you don’t recognize the name…I didn’t either)
Standing in the balcony, they were watching the warm-up act, when one of my daughters perceived two guys dressed in black hoodies behind her. Uh oh! Then turning, to her surprise, she discovered Dean Lewis and another band member, apparently checking out the crowd and its reaction to the onstage performers. She alerted her sister in time for both to see the two men walk away to head backstage. That unexpected brush with fame was a highlight of their trip.
Who doesn’t enjoy a brush with a celebrity? Of course we go to concerts, plays, dance performances, comic cons and wrestling matches because we enjoy that form of entertainment, but there’s also something exciting about meeting heroes you admire, even from a distance.
If you think about it, most celebrities work very hard to achieve a level of excellence that garners recognition. But what catapults them to fame is often media attention and/or self-promotion. Look closely, and within each of these celebrities, you’ll find a person just like you or me, who is delighted to be recognized and have their work appreciated.
If you think about the people who surround you, I bet you can name dozens who work just as hard as any celebrity, and excel at what they do, whether it’s teaching, performing, firefighting or landscaping. While most of us don’t seek the level of notoriety that gives us star power, we all enjoy recognition.
So the next time you see someone who is shining at his or her job, why not take a moment to compliment or thank that person? After all, there’s an unrecognized celebrity in each of us who has the flame of fame within.
Out on a Limb 