Fame
(High!)
I feel it coming together
People will see me and cry
(Fame!)
I’m gonna make it to heaven
Light up the sky like a flame
(Fame!)
I’m gonna live forever
Baby, remember my name
Some of you might remember those lyrics from the musical, “
Do you know that there are 2,807 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? These are people from motion pictures, television, recording, radio, live performance, and sports entertainment.
There are many museums of famous people: artists, writers, musicians, scientists, leaders & historical figures, royalty, fashion designers, explorers & space pioneers, etc.
There are even museums and memorials celebrating infamous people: crime figures, dictators and controversial leaders, cult leaders, criminals, rebels, etc.
But where, I ask you, are the museums of everyday people? The common person.
Where is the celebration and recognition of those who contribute and exist in everyday life?
Sure, some museums show works of art by famous artists dedicated to the Common Man. You can search these out. Many of these works of art depict objects used by ordinary people. Some depict regular people, like farmers, women at work or home, children at play, factory workers, family gatherings, musicians, etc. But, in all these, it’s the artist that is celebrated, the artist that is famous, not the people and things that inspired them.
So where are the famous common people?
They’re all around you. You just have to look and appreciate these walking exhibits. Your character, beliefs, and behavior are all part of what these famous people or, in some cases, infamous people have passed on to you.
They’re your parents, your teachers, your healthcare workers, and municipal employees that protect you and provide services for you. They are your colleagues, your friends, and your neighbors. They are the frontline workers, like cashiers, waiters, and your newspaper delivery person.
You get the idea.
I know we have days dedicated to honoring some of these people; Mother’s and Father’s Day come to mind. But we need to recognize and publicly share that recognition of others, and it shouldn’t be for just one day a year.
My new behavior is that if you are serving me and wearing a badge with your name, I don’t just say “Thank you” or “Have a nice day.” I will always add your name to my thanks or good wishes. They may not know my name, but hopefully, they appreciate that I took the time to learn theirs, making my response genuine, not canned.
Let’s all strive to do more of that. To me, it is much more important to recognize and celebrate common people than famous ones.
I loved the movie and the tv series. I completely agree about acknowledging others when you can. I try hard to remember the name of the customer service rep and the phone and use it when I thank them for their help. It’s a little thing but I hope it gives them a smile.