Have you ever been introduced to someone important at work, or a professional athlete or someone famous? Famous could mean someone locally, nationally or even globally. How did they treat you? Did you get a sense that this was just something they had to do or were they paying attention you?
There are many people who have achieved notoriety for the work they have conducted. But what is truly telling is how they handle that notoriety! Are they humble? Do they give credit to others along their way to becoming famous?
Being famous may feel great, but it is fleeting. Someone else will come along and knock you off that pedestal in time. But being humble is something that will linger. It will resonate with others and leave you feeling good about yourself.
In reality we are all special, whether we are famous for something or not. We all have the opportunity to contribute and invest in our family, community, workplace, school, etc. A few might become famous for it but most will just have satisfaction in knowing they made a difference, even if to a small degree. By all means, be proud of yourself. But you will receive far more from the internal feelings that come along with humility and lead to good character than you ever will from any fleeting fame that is thrown around for something, even noteworthy as it may be. Those external validations won’t be there long as they will move on to “the next big thing.”
May you find yourself always seeking to be humble and kind along your path and journey.