being famous

Yesterday one of my face book friends wrote this status update;

‘I have finally got to 1,000 friends here on face book, but in real life I think I have about four.’

I also made a quote design from a status update from a group of creatives I love here in my city…

I am still in the aftermath of watching ‘The Fault with Our Stars’ at the movies yesterday and it has got me thinking how our society rates success by ‘how well we are known, rather than how well we have lived.’

The Mac Donald’s effect has taken over our culture as a definition of success. If we mass produce something and make it accessible to everyone, that is now brilliance.

What about the quality?

What about living a quiet and authentic existence, creating beauty in our moments with those we love dearly?

A quote from John Green that arrested me yesterday was this…

Why do we think being loved widely, makes us a success?

Why do we believe that our quick rise to fame in culture is a great attribute for our resume?

Why do we believe that large numbers following or attending something means that it is truthful, excellent and successful?

Some of the most inspirational people I know, aren’t even on social media.

Some of the most creative people I have ever met, are loved deeply and produce out of that place of security and possibility.

Some of the most astounding feats have happened and have never been captured or reproduced anywhere except the moment when they were created.

I heard someone once say,

‘We are living our lives trying to impress people we will never meet, buying the lifestyle with money we don’t even have, to please people we don’t even like.’

Big is not always better.

Fashionable is not always cool.

Brilliance is not often found in a highly marketed package.

Happiness is rarely found in large moments of success.

Why do we think so many celebrities struggle with their daily lives outside of the spotlight?

I want to be loved deeply, by a core of people, who know me and who trust me.

I want to live true to who I am, who I was designed to be, who I am purposed to be.

I want to be happy.

Happiness is not found in large moments of consumerism.

It is found internally when we make peace with who we truly are.