Role Models Challenge
What is the definition of a role model nowadays? What is it supposed to mean when mothers so joyously exclaim, "I'm so happy there's people like Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez out there, they're such great role models for my kids!" No lady. That's just wrong. You are totally pulling the term out of the context of which it was borne upon. The term literally means the words included in it; it means one who you would model your role after.
Now Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez may be better choices than other celebrities out there for you to aspire to be like, but they are hardly someone I would model myself after. (They are just examples.) I would not pick a young, bright star with a sparkly wardrobe and Bright smile for the sake of picking someone famous and well known. I'd pick someone who is unbelievably great, and moral; someone who's love and beauty I would never be able to eclipse. They are the kind of people who are so amazing that you know you'll never come close to their depth, but by trying to be like them, you can become nothing other than a better person.
Some people have many role models, some none. I choose carefully those I include in that group, but I've thought long and hard on thus subject last week, and thought it should share; I concluded I currently have three main role models/ people I would totally call my mentors.
1) Ethel Piccott, a lovely old lady at my church. One of my greatest fears for the far, far future is having a second part of me die; if I had a husband, and he died before me. I'm just not sure how I'd cope with that. Her and her husband, Ray, were some of the sweetest people I've met to date. He passed away a week or two ago, directly before Christmas, unfortunately. Well she gave a testimony in church last week. Old, sweet, and frail, she shakes as she stands up. But she talks about how wonderful God is, and how she misses her husband and thinks of him every single day. And she's crying as she says it. But she's smiling. Smiling through her tears of joy, because she know she'll be reunited with Ray someday. And I swear, she is the only person to make me cry my heart out in public. I stood in my pew, and I shook, I wept like a babe fresh from the womb. She has stirred me like no other, and she will forever be an inspiration and someone I look up to.
2) I met a lovely young lady by the name of Colleen on tumblr. She runs several blogs, some of them RP ones, including Frodo. Not only have I ever met a better writer on tumblr, better RPer, sweeter being, but just a genuinely loving person in general. I've gotten A LOT of anonymous hate on tumblr, and she was the only one who came by my side, every single time. I know most of you don't know how tumblr RP works, but when she logs on, she normally has tons to do, and loads to write. But if she ever senses I'm not feeling the brightest or whatnot, she's always at my rescue, and is willing to listen to absolutely anything I have to say. She doesn't even make me feel petty for it. She's dealt with pain, regret, and helps me through mine. She's what I aspire to be in five years time. She's my college aged role model, but she doesn't know it. She doesn't know how highly I think of her, and her sister is lovely and kind as well. She doesn't even know my name. I don't think she even knows I know hers.
3) Tegan. Yes, Tegan from Quibblo. I'm so unbelievably glad I took the time and courage to message her and befriend her here. There's no words to describe her. If you're not friends with her, do so immediately; she's on my top friends. She's only about ten months older than me, but has the knowledge and wisdom of someone thirty years older than me. She picks me up when I fall down; she completes me when I have pieces missing. I've had more laughs and serious talks with her than I have with most of my real life friends my lifetime, and I don't ever intend to lose her. She's never frosted anything over when I'm upset to make me feel better, as it would only confuse me; she instructs me to do the right thing, even if it's not what I'd want to hear. And I've never gone wrong by taking her advice. If she lived near me, I swear, I'd annoy the crud out of her, because I'd want to hang everyday.
This isn't to make anyone here feel bad; I've chosen these people for specific reasons, as I'm closer to some of you in ways I'm not with these people. But those are people I know in my heart will do me only good to try to become more like them. Taylor Swift makes mistakes. Big ones. As I'm sure my role models have as well. But set aside your love for hers or anyone else's music, looks, public Image, eyelash bat... And think. Who would make you a better person if you modeled your role after them? Old Ethel? Or Selena Gomez?
So. Who are your role models? This is a challenge for you all. Tag it with "MRM" for "My role model." Give me specific reasons why they are your role models. (Please note that if you are doing this for my challenge, I want the genders to match for certain reasons. For example, if you're female, DO NOT put down One Direction as your role models. I can think of a Ton of guys I'd make as mine, but men and women have different roles... Therefore I want your genders to match up.
~ Dom
Now Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez may be better choices than other celebrities out there for you to aspire to be like, but they are hardly someone I would model myself after. (They are just examples.) I would not pick a young, bright star with a sparkly wardrobe and Bright smile for the sake of picking someone famous and well known. I'd pick someone who is unbelievably great, and moral; someone who's love and beauty I would never be able to eclipse. They are the kind of people who are so amazing that you know you'll never come close to their depth, but by trying to be like them, you can become nothing other than a better person.
Some people have many role models, some none. I choose carefully those I include in that group, but I've thought long and hard on thus subject last week, and thought it should share; I concluded I currently have three main role models/ people I would totally call my mentors.
1) Ethel Piccott, a lovely old lady at my church. One of my greatest fears for the far, far future is having a second part of me die; if I had a husband, and he died before me. I'm just not sure how I'd cope with that. Her and her husband, Ray, were some of the sweetest people I've met to date. He passed away a week or two ago, directly before Christmas, unfortunately. Well she gave a testimony in church last week. Old, sweet, and frail, she shakes as she stands up. But she talks about how wonderful God is, and how she misses her husband and thinks of him every single day. And she's crying as she says it. But she's smiling. Smiling through her tears of joy, because she know she'll be reunited with Ray someday. And I swear, she is the only person to make me cry my heart out in public. I stood in my pew, and I shook, I wept like a babe fresh from the womb. She has stirred me like no other, and she will forever be an inspiration and someone I look up to.
2) I met a lovely young lady by the name of Colleen on tumblr. She runs several blogs, some of them RP ones, including Frodo. Not only have I ever met a better writer on tumblr, better RPer, sweeter being, but just a genuinely loving person in general. I've gotten A LOT of anonymous hate on tumblr, and she was the only one who came by my side, every single time. I know most of you don't know how tumblr RP works, but when she logs on, she normally has tons to do, and loads to write. But if she ever senses I'm not feeling the brightest or whatnot, she's always at my rescue, and is willing to listen to absolutely anything I have to say. She doesn't even make me feel petty for it. She's dealt with pain, regret, and helps me through mine. She's what I aspire to be in five years time. She's my college aged role model, but she doesn't know it. She doesn't know how highly I think of her, and her sister is lovely and kind as well. She doesn't even know my name. I don't think she even knows I know hers.
3) Tegan. Yes, Tegan from Quibblo. I'm so unbelievably glad I took the time and courage to message her and befriend her here. There's no words to describe her. If you're not friends with her, do so immediately; she's on my top friends. She's only about ten months older than me, but has the knowledge and wisdom of someone thirty years older than me. She picks me up when I fall down; she completes me when I have pieces missing. I've had more laughs and serious talks with her than I have with most of my real life friends my lifetime, and I don't ever intend to lose her. She's never frosted anything over when I'm upset to make me feel better, as it would only confuse me; she instructs me to do the right thing, even if it's not what I'd want to hear. And I've never gone wrong by taking her advice. If she lived near me, I swear, I'd annoy the crud out of her, because I'd want to hang everyday.
This isn't to make anyone here feel bad; I've chosen these people for specific reasons, as I'm closer to some of you in ways I'm not with these people. But those are people I know in my heart will do me only good to try to become more like them. Taylor Swift makes mistakes. Big ones. As I'm sure my role models have as well. But set aside your love for hers or anyone else's music, looks, public Image, eyelash bat... And think. Who would make you a better person if you modeled your role after them? Old Ethel? Or Selena Gomez?
So. Who are your role models? This is a challenge for you all. Tag it with "MRM" for "My role model." Give me specific reasons why they are your role models. (Please note that if you are doing this for my challenge, I want the genders to match for certain reasons. For example, if you're female, DO NOT put down One Direction as your role models. I can think of a Ton of guys I'd make as mine, but men and women have different roles... Therefore I want your genders to match up.
~ Dom
30 Comments
I very much enjoy the message you are sending here. But might I ask what you mean by 'men and women have different roles'? I'm just very curious about this part and would like to have it clarified, please. Sorry if I appear to be a bother.
I think she's saying that because of the whole 'crush' factor. If I liked One Direction, I might put them down as a role model without having a real reason why. Same with any person of the opposite gender.
Thank you! What I mean is this; someone might say, "Oh, Brad Pitt is such a great father, he's my role model", but it doesn't really make sense. Men and women have different roles. If you are a woman, you shouldn't aspire to be like an awesome dad, because you will never be one. Aspire to be like them in other ways. But for certain purposes, both genders have different roles, so everything works out perfectly. :) Hope this helps!
Oh yeah, alright, I get'cha now! Thanks (:
This is really good! I have to say you're wiser than most people nowadays. :) I like Taylor Swift, but I woudn't put her down as my role model. I agree with everything you said. :)
Wow, that means a lot, thanks a ton! I too like her, and think she would be a better RM than a lot of people out there, but still...
What about people who actually think that a famous person is a good role model? Is that so bad? Not to sound harsh, but youkinda sound like you're ragging on anyone who has a celeberity role model. They are just like you and me, so why cant they be used in an example as a role model? (sorry if I sound harsh, but...)
Not harsh at all! That's what comments are for, right? I'm not raging against anyone who has a celebrity as their role model; I'm only saying its a term not to be trifled with, or so easily given away. Celebrities are human, of course, but if you think about what I wrote, what I'm saying is that I'm sure if you thought hard, there's better people you could think of, as they tend to glorify quite sinful lives some of the time. Adam Young is a celebrity and 1 of my biggest RM's, but a male. :D
Number 1: Oops. I accidentally thumbed this down Drea! :O
Number 2: I don't think you can really know a celebrity unless you're close to them and know them in real life... I would think a role model would be someone you've come to know and respect and because of that you'd like to be like... But if you have a celebrity role model, I won't say anything. O.O I mean, I already don't have a face...
I agree, Tegan. But what I tend to think is, if that's what they're like with their public image, or at least a lot of them, what are they really like as a person?
True. I've found from experience that celebrities, especially those appealing to a children's audience, are not like the image they portray. It's really... Shocking. D: But to each his own.
Miley Cyrus, anyone? XD
I don't have role models.
Um, I really don't know I have any role models! XD
But good stuff! :]
I didn't cry!!! But: Awwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!! You're so sweet! I'd let you bother me every day. Tell your dad to move to South Florida! XD
Hah! We originally were going to go to Florida... Too hot. But my parents will retire there most likely so...enjoy!
D'awww. But it's nice here! Anyhow, you're going to Maine, which is where I want to end up. XD
Hah! Story if my life.. Can't get away from Moose
It's like
DADDYYYYY THERE'S ANOTHER MOOSE TRYING TO EAT MY BOOK HELP
Ok, let's move to Maine.
-.-
BAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! I just thumbed down my comment. FAIL. I can just picture you saying that for some reason. XDD
Most awkward video ever, anyone? ;;)
NO. Most awkward video ever is for you, and you only...I'm so embarrassed even I'm deleting it.
It was the best video EVER! Nina needs to see it! XD You sounded EXACTLY how I thought. XDD XD XD
Really? I sound a little different... Video always cruds my voice up XD
I'd show her, but I can't attach it to an email ggrrr
How come? DD:
Dunno. Tried once, and failed. Just like everything else I do. Anything I touch explodes into shadows of darkness, and hauntings of the past. One click, I ruin lives. One word uttered on the tip of my tongue kills a suffering orphan somewhere. My tongue thinks the child will be sent to a better place. My tongue lives in the blackness of my mouth, spewing disturbingly melancholy messages consistently. I hate Gmail, and I hate having to get up early tomorrow for my bros. annoying friend. Me sorry.
I personally hate hate. Just saying. I've hardly heard a melancholy message come from you. Just a few times. Be ye in need of sleep? XDD Or a shower? Showers are the solution to any problem according to Nina. XD
HAHAHAHA! Well I didn't actually mean any of that, I barely remember typing it... Me thinks me needs a break from parents and family XD
Wait... So you hate your hate of hate? O.O
Precisely. XD
I'm moved. I don't know what to say...I don't even have a role model. I just try to be the best person I can be.
Yeah, I agree with you, Domilie.
Betty White! š¹