Sometimes I wonder why we are so attracted to celebrities? It seems that almost everything is defined by some celebrity. Buzzfeed quizzes comparing us with different celebrities, magazines telling us how to get abs like some celebrity, Youtube videos on how to do your makeup like some celebrity. For the record, I have never successfully imitated any of those videos. To answer that question on a personal level I was thinking about what I identify with or like about some particular famous people.

I sometimes catch some flak in my family for my current love of 21 Pilots (because hipsters like them, I guess?). Regardless, I connect with the music and that is what matters to me. I love that I feel like the lyrics are something I would’ve written if I were so gifted. The sentiments in nearly every song on their last two albums are ones that have been in my heart at some point. As an example here are the lyrics to their song Car Radio.

I so wish I had written those words, because those words are my exact feelings when I don’t have some distraction to keep me from thinking.

I think that is a piece of the answer, we see something in celebrities that we connect with. But we also see that they have been able to take that thing that we may have in common with them and they make something bigger out of it. They made other people notice that trait and care about it. They express things in a way that resonates with the masses.

I write a lot, but I don’t expect that many people read what I write. But I do know that there are things in my head and heart that some people would appreciate, because there is a celebrity expressing those same thoughts and emotions and people are listening.

And I guess in thinking about this, I also began to realize that within my own circle of friends there are people that although not famous, are certainly as cool as any celebrity. People who I connect with and can share the deepest parts of my soul. People who also love celebrities because those celebrities represent something that those people are or would like to be. And sometimes I overlook or devalue these people.

So I think it is important to recognize that we have amazing people all around us. That we ourselves are amazing people, and although we may not be famous, it doesn’t diminish our value. Just because millions of people don’t read what I write doesn’t make it unimportant. Within my small circle of influence people are affected by my thoughts, words and actions. I am also affected by their thoughts, words and actions. So, keep those fandoms going, go to concerts and movies, watch Youtubers and follow your favorite celebs on Instagram and Twitter; but don’t forget the people around you, the ones who listen when your day isn’t so great. The ones who celebrate milestones with you. The ones who share your secret hopes and dreams and know your sadness and despairs. The ones who love you whether or not a million other people do