We Are All Stars

Andy Warhol once predicted that "in the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes."

He made this prediction even before the the internet and cell phones that double as cameras, and the other technologies we now have.

And his prediction has been accurate. Athletes, authors, movie stars, pop music stars, politicians, inventors, tycoons, and on and on, have all been the subject of a day or a few months, and suddenly, they are so last year.

People became household names briefly, for being criminals or doing stupid things. Some people are famous for being famous. There are some celebrities who are featured on TV shows and in magazines, yet they have never done anything significant.

The ephemeral fame can confuse us as to what real stardom is. If one person is a star because they are considered "hot" this year, how does that compare to someone who has been considered an attractive accomplished actress for years? How does this year's controversial singer compare to the singer who has recorded and performed memorable songs for years?

In some of these cases, only time will tell. Can this year's hottie continue to surprise and amaze us for years to come? Will the person who was on TV talking about their popular book this year, still be saying interesting things and writing good books next year or the year after?

Are the ones who are famous for a brief time necessary to open the way for greater stars, and noteworthy people to come? Does the spreading of fame to a greater number increase the possibility that more of us can imagine ourselves rising to greater heights and becoming more of who we want to be?

Do you notice some of these other people getting their 15 minutes and think to your self that maybe you would like your 15 minutes too?

Does this proliferation of opportunies encourage us to go for it too? Go for what? Go for whatever we want!