On Being Famous

“I want to be famous in the way a pulley is famous,

Or a buttonhole, not because it did anything spectacular,

But because it never forgot what it could do.”

Naomi Shihab Nye

from The Exquisite Risk by Mark Nepo

We do a lot of striving and reaching in the course of our life. We want to make a difference in a way that is recognized, acknowledged and rewarded. We want to solve the biggest riddle or be the last man standing or the winner on American Idol. We think fame would be great…it would prove that we are worthy and important. When we are gone from this life our legacy would live on. We want the world to remember what we were made of.

Not you? Well, maybe it’s just that you want to have your say…on stage. You want others to know that it was your idea, that you said it first, that you are in charge. Hey…somebody look this way…at me…over here…I’m the one!

The never-ending search outside of our self for validation of our own worth seldom brings us what we really want from life…peace, serenity and humble confidence.  If we have enough courage we can find these in our ordinary lives. We find them when we practice awareness and appreciation of the gentle breeze, the suddenly blue sky or the fury of wind and rain. We experience them sitting with our morning coffee or over conversation with a friend. We can find these feelings when we open ourselves up to possibilities…rather than to always see obstacles.

In the ordinary-ness we can remember why we are here…to love and to be loved…to care and to care for…to be what we came here to be. Never forget what you can do…in your own unique and essential way.

Be the buttonhole!

Peace always

Paula