Do You Value Your Privacy?

The red carpet, the cameras flash, glamorous people in gorgeous clothes surround you and walking out in public people cheer your name. Fame.

Fame and fortune often go hand in hand to create this blissful idea that most people would consider to be "the perfect life", but the real question is, is fame worth it?

The glitz and the glamour are always the forefronts of what people define as fame, but that idealistic lifestyle comes at a price. Celebrity's lavish lives are filled with sacrifices that we cannot even begin to understand. The minute things we experience in life, the little privileges we take for granted are the things movie stars, athletes and singers relinquish for their work.

Imagine planning out a vacation, the few things you may need to consider is scheduling, cost, transportation, and lodging. Now with the life of a person graced with fame, it seems like there is no limit to the number of vacations that they take. But imagine having to plan a vacation not just around work or school. Imagine having to plan a vacation around, performances, world tours, team practices, rehearsals, film shoots, vocal coaching, T.V. show appearances, etc. Not to mention that even on vacation there is going to be a camera lens watching your every move once you step out of that hotel room. That notion of constantly being under the scrutiny of the world puts an immense amount of stress on someone, they can't relax and enjoy themselves even when they want to relax.

Celebrities must maintain this decorum, this poise that people expect of them, because not only do they not want to disappoint their followers, but their very career relies on it. Humans are not perfect by any means and yet we still expect these people to be better than all of us in their behavior and in their habits. Imagine that your job relied on the opinion of the entire world, and imagine that there is little to no privacy, you can't go to the gas station to get some candy without someone following you to get a picture, and God help you if you're caught doing something even remotely disreputable because people will go to town with their judgment and commentary. That's a lot of pressure to be put under and it is not fair in any circumstance.

Tabloids and news stations are always up to date on the newest scandal. Who's getting divorced? Guess who's pregnant! Who cheated on Who? They did what with their money? On and on again they go leaving stories of importance in the back of their magazines. These magazines draw us into reading and buying their merchandise by exploiting these people. The stories that grab attention are the ones that are the most severe.

A divorce or a spouse's infidelity is not something that should be plastered all over the tabloids and used as a means to gain profit. That is someone's life, someone's struggle that you are putting out for the world to see. It's a fragile moment for these two people who were willing to share their lives together and for some reason or another it all fell apart. Not only is this tragedy public knowledge, but these people are hounded in the street by strangers wanting to get their statements to further flush out the story. With no regards as to how hurt that person may be.

Parents can't even enjoy being a parent normally. Because of their fame, their families are also in the eye of the public. There is a lot of traveling done by celebrities, whether it be for their music tours or film shoots, it's still time that mothers, fathers, and siblings are away from their families. Mothers-to-be can't even enjoy their pregnancies, for wherever they go there's a camera flash hoping to get a shot of their belly. And when the baby is born, it's like having to hide yourself from every watchful eyes as you try to enjoy your time bonding with your newborn. And the children of these celebrities are not even allowed to grow up without someone keeping tabs on them, their actions good or bad are analyzed and reported in one way or another.

I am not a celebrity, and I don't intend on being one. But I have respect for those who are, and for the sacrifices, they make in order to not only do their work and show it to the world. I am not the type of person to want to give up my privacy for anything. I value it too much, and as an introverted person, the very idea of constantly being on someone's radar is chilling to even think about. I'd like for my family and myself to be able to do crazy fun things without anyone looking into our backgrounds or watching us, waiting for their next snapshot.

So to the celebrities out there, I commend you for your work and I salute you for your sacrifice. For you are doing what many people can't handle in your day to day lives, and you still manage to smile through it.