Famous?

Hey hey, do you wanna be famous?
Everywhere you go people know what your name is
Everyone you know tryina tell ya you changing
They wanna taste that fame, fame fame fame fame

B.O.B. Fame 

I've had a really awesome opportunity to volunteer for some cool things where I've gotten to see celebrities. Originally all I thought was, (in this order) a.) OMG THERE THEY ARE HOW COOL!! b.) man those flashes from the lights r so stinkin bright! c.) Dude, that's gotta be annoying to not be able to just sit there d.) I actually think I would hate to be them

I know that seems random and today I was reminded that they signed up for that and they go to these events specifically for the publicity, but I'm sure not all celebs "signed up for that" and that's where my thoughts come in today. 

We all THINK we want to be famous and this includes me until recently. You think about all the cool things, like having money to do with what you please and give where you want; you think of all the cool clothes and places they get to travel to and having a personal trainer since none of us know what we're doing at the gym and we (or I) wimp out when I'm too tired or bored. However, there is another side to this celeb thing. At other jobs you get to "check in check out" as my mom says about nursing. When your done, you can leave you work there and come home, relax and enjoy your family. You don't get that as a celeb. You are constantly being watching for failures and slip ups. Again, I know they probably knew what they were getting into and some probably enjoy it, but it can't be easy to raise a family when the camera's constantly want to photograph your child and everything about it's life. 

The reason I bring all this up is to question how content you are with your own life. I think a lot of us fantasize about being "famous" because it is an escape from where we are and it is a hope of having no restraints, but there are restraints, if not more so in their life. Being content is probably the greatest and most understated characteristic. I know this from experience. In elementary school I couldn't wait to be in middle school, middle school to high school and in high school, I hated it so much that I did post secondary and could wait to go to college. Now I am in college and I have slowly been learning to be content with where I am at (granted in certain things). Like I love college and don't want to graduate but at the same time, I'm always anxious about my next step to get to my future career (w/e that ends up being). Instead of enjoying being here in NYC, I'm constantly thinking and fretting about my next step (summer?!?!?!) and what I need or should be doing to prepare, and then next fall what should I do and then where should I look to apply for a "real job" after college? I know it is good to be prepared and to take action, but if we (or I) constantly focus on what's next, we are going to miss all of the great things happening right now around us and when we die, the only "what's next" is our future with or without God and what will we have to show if we are always living in the future and not looking at the opportunities or blessings he's giving us right here. 

So stop thinking that the grass is always greener on the other side, because I'd hate to just want to go out for a dinner with my family and always have to bring along a body guard, my sunglasses (in the dead of winter) driver and probably 50 other people to (or at least to let them know) so I can slip in and slip out. Their life may be glam and fun to look at but don't fixate on what they have and on your determination to "make it" in society so you can get to that next step. Enjoy where you're at and what your doing today, or you're going to miss things, like the crazy lady on the bus today. (insert crazy lady with a mean mug and random yellings after she awkwardly stretched her back here, seriously she was probably a mental patient or should have been). What liz wants, is for you to smile, and enjoy the day, WHERE ever  you are at. You can't reach level three in life without completing level two, so (in reference to mario) make sure you're grabbing all the gold coins because you can't go back to that level once you pass it!

Happiness

It is Valentine's Day. Everyone out there that is single is probably crying over how stupid the holiday is. But that depends on how you define the four little letter word that this day is all about. Love. I have friends who have always been in a relationship and feel as though they NEED it. I am the complete opposite. I have never been in a serious relationship and I've never hated Valentine's Day because I'm single. Actually I love it! My parents always remind me they love me and I always have good friends around that we do fun stuff with. Think about this. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines love at " a (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child> (2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates>" However, as I read my devotional this morning, it reminded me that love always is defined like this..."There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friend" John 15:13. We are all to quick to associate Valentine's day love with the second definition from the dictionary forgetting that love also is a deep commitment not always based on your "feelings". Remember, Jesus Christ showed us the greatest kind of love, so don't fret over being Valentine-less in the sense of a significant other. Be greatful for the people in your life that DO love you and remind others that you love them, just one human being to another. Hey if you don't have a significant other, instead of taking this day and pouting and being selfish find someone who really is having a hard time, like maybe someone homeless, in a bad life situation, or in need of encouragement, and show them love, based on the God's definition of love. Just a thought. I'm just tired of people complaining about Valentine's Day, you get chocolate and you can make the day mean whatever you want it to mean. It's just what Liz wants.