Do you ever wonder how “celebrity” came to be?

It used to be that if you wanted to be an artist or a musician or an actor, you accepted that it might be a starving pursuit – that there would likely be little money in it, but you did it anyway because you loved it. You knew that you weren’t pursuing a profession like medicine or teaching and you accepted the lesser pay in order to do what you loved.

Now musicians and actors and athletes (correct me if I’m wrong) seem to often make more money than doctors, teachers, paramedics, firefighters, police officers and well, everybody. It just doesn’t make sense to me. I’m not saying their jobs are easy – I know that living in the limelight can take it’s toll on a person and that they work long hours and travel a lot for the job, but seriously? When did America or Planet Earth as a whole decide that an actor was more important than a teacher? That making a movie was worth more money than saving a life? That winning a football game was a bigger deal than keeping our streets safe?

I know I’m just as guilty for this. I buy the CDs and DVR the shows. I have a netflix account so I can see the movies. I own Beatles Rockband and have been known to rock out. I’ve watched major sporting events. I know, it’s fun. It’s cool. But when did it become important? Like vitally important? When did it happen that these people became the idols that everyone wanted to be? When did becoming a celebrity become a real goal that so many people truly aspire to and assume they are going to achieve?

When you watch the auditions for American Idol and America’s Next Top Model and you see those long, long lines of people trying out, trying desperately to become famous… does it ever make you a little sick? Do you think all those kids would be in such a hurry to act or sing or model if there wasn’t millions of dollars on the line and fifteen minutes of fame to boot? Do they come out in similar droves to audition for teaching jobs or practicing medicine?

I know this isn’t a novel thought. And I get that teenagers and kids especially are just going to see the shining lights and the applause and think, “That’s cool. I want to do that.” I just miss the days when most little kids wanted to be fire fighters and astronauts and teachers – instead of YouTube sensations and yes, celebrities. When did it become normal to be extraordinary? To be one of the few who makes it big? So many people seem to have made it big these days that it’s no wonder so many people audition for these reality shows, so sure they are going to make it, too, but what message is this really sending to future generations that this is okay and normal and accepted? It shouldn’t be normal. It shouldn’t be accepted or expected.

I’m not saying kids shouldn’t dream or want to sing or dance. But whatever happened to hobbies? Whatever happened to work and play? Why has this become normal or has it always been this way and I’m just not old enough to really see that in clarity?

Feel free to share your opinion – I’d love to hear your (respectful) thoughts in the comments section below.