The People I Admire Will Never Be Famous
They actively avoid fame
In life, we are often sold the ideal of the rich, talented and famous. Whether it is a professional athlete who sets new records or an entrepreneur that changes the world. We are taught to admire the experts at the top of their respective industries.
But I don’t look up to these people.
Don’t get me wrong. I respect them. Their passion, skill and commitment to a singular goal is inspiring.
But I don’t aspire to be like them. Ten years ago, I definitely felt differently. I bought into the hype and cookie cutter values.
Slowly, as I continue my journey through my 30s, I realise that the people I look up to are never in the limelight.
They Don’t Stand Out
The people that I look up to aren’t the big entrepreneurs, sports stars, or celebrities.
They don’t have millions of adoring fans. They have handfuls of loving family and friends.
They are pretty much unknown to others.
They Live Balanced Lives
I admire the people who have incredible balance in their lives. They don’t have a singular focus on any particular aspect of their life. They value the whole experience.
They Are Rarely The Best At Anything
As a consequence of living a balanced life, they will rarely ever be the best at anything. It’s not because they can’t compete. They just don’t prioritise it.
They don’t care enough about one particular thing to sacrifice everything else. They gladly accept being second best or worse if it means they get to do a little of everything. This is why they will never be famous.
They are remarkable but not in the traditional sense.
They Are Chill
I admire them because they don’t take themselves too seriously.
They don’t obsess over things like wealth and status.
They focus on the relationships with the people around them.
They are content being themselves and playing to their own set of defined values.
And, they are not concerned with the games other people play.
They Enjoy The Now
They can be entirely present, in the moment.
Whilst they are also mindful of the future, they are not burdened by it.
They appreciate the need for delayed gratification but they don’t delay it forever. They let it trickle through a little each day.
They understand the shortness of life and so they don’t waste it.
They understand that life isn’t always exciting.
Whether things are going to plan or not, they still find something to be grateful and happy for.
They Are Self Aware
They have a strong grasp of their strengths and weaknesses.
They know they aren’t perfect but they aren’t ashamed of it. They constantly try to be a little bit better.
There is no insecurity great enough that they would hesitate to ask for help when they need it. After all, the sum of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
They Are Supportive
They are not loud, obnoxious and constantly bringing attention to themselves and their accomplishments.
Whilst they might have many victories, they do not boast.
They constantly strive to live a meaningful life and they don’t seek praise.
They are incredibly patient and great listeners.
They are supportive when everyone else wants to be the star. They would rather see you happy than take the glory for themselves.
They get as much joy, if not more, from the success of their close family and friends than they would for themselves.
They Could Be Anybody
They could be the loving parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins, or friends.
They could be anyone you know. They could be me or you.
They are not perfect all of the time and they know it. They accept their shortcomings.
And, they don’t waste time judging others.
It’s worth thinking about what kind of qualities you value in the people you aspire to emulate. Are there specific qualities you are striving for today?
