Glancing through most people's entry into today's prompt, I can't help but see how the majority are excited about the prospect of being famous, as they see it as a good thing that signifies they're well-to-do or right, but is that really the case? I believe most people immediately think about celebrities or that it's only the rich that are famous, but then, even though this explanation won't necessarily decide what my response would be to the prompt question, I'd still like to state that not all publicity is good; it's possible to be famous, and it'll be for the wrong reasons. Take, for instance, Anini. He's famous, even after his death he's still dated, but does that paint a good picture of him? Absolutely not; it's my prayer that we may not get PR for the wrong reasons.
It's possible I'm actually skeptical about the word "famous" immediately. It's because I'm an introvert and tend to enjoy my own company or that of a few I hold dear more than being the center of attention in a large audience. It doesn't mean I don't like to be recognized; it's not just as many would want it, even if I'll get recognized for my work or impact and would appreciate it. What I won't like is a situation where I can't freely walk on the street again because I'm famous and almost everyone would want to familiarize themselves with me or take selfies.
So, with that being said, I won't say it's a good thing, nor would I say it's bad, because it all depends on how that recognition plays out, but if I were to pick a side, I'd actually really prefer not to be famous. After all, not being famous doesn't mean you're not relevant, nor does it mean you're broke or not well-to-do; it's just the standard our society today has come to exalt. We've got a lot of influential people and well-to-do businessmen who, if they walk around the street today, no one will pause to look at them twice. I prefer that kind of simple lifestyle that gives me the opportunity to live my life to the fullest without being scared of getting overwhelmed by crowds' attention, to the point where it conflicts with my private life.
I've peered into the lives of many famous people, and I've concluded that I don't want their kind of life. I don't want people sniffing into my family or private affairs all in the name of "we're his fans." When you see how some fans intrude into the lives of some famous people, you'll be amazed and wonder how these celebs cope with everything. I don't want to find myself in that situation, even if I'm a businessman.I have the belief that Dangote has a lot of tails on his back and business because he's famous. There are lots of businesses out there that are unknown and don't get all of those unnecessary challenges, but being famous kind of became a curse to him in those ways, so I'd rather stick with being unknown and doing my thing on a low key.
And if peradventure I become famous for something, which I hope is good, I won't necessarily bank on that opportunity to remain in the limelight; instead, I'll find a way to gradually fade away from the spotlight so I can return back to how things used to be, and that's because I love my calm, quiet lifestyle.
All photos are mine.