In a momentary and inexplicable lack of judgment, I watched the Grammys instead of the NFL Pro Bowl. I actually enjoyed the event, but the attire was what caught my attention.
I couldn’t care less about fashion – I have five pairs of shoes. I’m not sure what “chic” means, and I think DKNY sounds like an airport code. Regardless of my blissful fashion ignorance, the styles on the red carpet did leave quite an impression.
Supposedly, Lady Gaga dazzled the crowds with her mustard yellow hair and newest trendy dress from the “Jane Jetson Collection”.
Supposedly, Pink left the crowd breathless as she soared around the Staples Center looking naked and wrapped in toilet paper.
Supposedly, someone without eyesight issues styled Rihanna’s hair (which made Aretha Franklin’s inauguration hat look understated).
What these divas and fashionistas have in common is an unquenchable desire for attention. It is this same hunger for the spotlight that keeps politicians like Kinky Friedman and athletes like Terrell Owens firmly in the center of mainstream America.
Fame and notoriety is vital to these stars – a sort of lifeblood. All too often, Sportscenter leads with a story about TO’s latest antics, and TMZ’s latest gossip surrounds Britney Spears.
Herein lies the problem: We crave circus acts almost as much as people like Lady Gaga crave serving as ringleader. The idea that “blending in” is valuable is long gone. The message we receive today is simple – blending in is bad, sticking out is good.
We emphasize the provocative, calling it bold and trendy. At the same time, we ignore the ordinary, calling it boring and lifeless. Both ideas are incorrect and uninformed.
We don’t have to make the evening news to be notable or great. Jesus picked ordinary people to serve as his witnesses – fishermen, doctors and government employees. Unfortunately, we have even turned Jesus into a rock star – a superstar you might say. Jesus had to run from the crowds.
The point here is not to be boring but rather to understand there are other ways to be great. The closest most of us will ever get to a red carpet is Pizza Hut. Greatness is not defined in how provocative we can be but rather in what we define as greatness.
I love my so-called boring life and the so-called boring people in it. In fact, it’s not boring at all. We are just confused as to what an exciting existence looks like. The “ordinary and mundane” can bring great pleasure, if we only look for the good. I think my life is great, and I’m almost certain the 299 million or more Americans who live so-called boring existences would agree – their lives are great as well.
