The Academy Awards came on recently, and though I tend to avoid awards shows these days, it was interesting to see the various actors and actresses put on their masks and play the role of glittering ‘stars’ for the world to admire and emulate and dissect.  The globe is indeed obsessed with the concept of celebrity, and people will do seemingly anything to get a piece of their favorites.  Their every move is followed, scrutinized, critiqued, and discussed, and as a result, they develop a god-like persona that keeps them posted up and unattainable atop a sky high pedestal.  At any rate, I don’t buy into the celebrity hocus pocus, don’t glorify them ad infinitum, and don’t succumb to the idolatrous hero worship, but watching the Oscars does remind me that dreams and goals are attainable.

Above all, those actors honored with nominations and those that won silverware were people that sought to become what they wanted to be.  That much is true.  Underneath it all, and before they were ‘stars’, they were just regular folk armed with a dream and some balls…balls enough to take a solid crack at an elusive goal.  Whether they became actors, animators, writers, directors, sound editors, or some random and nameless dude behind the scenes, they made it to the Everest of award shows and were recognized for their achievements by the highest organization in their field.  They started out just like the rest of us (albeit with a bit more luck in many cases no doubt), and made it to the top.  It’s a frank reminder that not only do dreams exist, but they can be had and are there for the taking for those courageous enough to set out and go get them.

Success is a beautiful thing.  It’s wonderful witnessing the manifestation of a goal, of a work recognized, and the satisfaction of a job well done.  How many of us get to not only see the end product of our work, but to do it in style, in front of our peers and a few hundred million admirers?  They are artists at the pinnacle of their craft, artists that have displayed their true A-game; in my opinion, it’s a great reminder that if you want something, no matter how big or unrealistic it seems, you can have it if you’re willing to go the distance.  If you’re willing to work for it, sweat for it, and keep on going when it seems like all is lost and that your destination is an impossibility.  Those folks that graced the stage started just where the rest of us are now, but they made it to the top.  Luck, fate, determination, courage, grit, and all the rest came into play, but they made it.  That says something.