My Captain's Log

Navigating The Stormy Waters Of Fatherhood

Menu
  • About Me
  • About The Captain
  • Contact Me: Let’s Tell Your Story
  • Privacy Policy
  • Recent Posts
Menu

Ordinary People 

Posted on February 27, 2017February 27, 2017 by captaincreed

The ordinary people didn’t make it on my wall. 

Like so many other kids, my walls were coated with posters and clippings of stars. Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson, Mark McGwire, Jennifer Capriatti (one of my first pro crushes), Mark Price, Nolan Ryan, Charles Barkley. The list could go on and on. 

I wrote phrases on my door and, to the dismay of my mother, my wall. Things like “Just Do It”, “Image is Everything”, “Bo Knows”, “Be Like Mike”, and (ironically) “I am not a role model.” They were catch phrases. They sold shoes, racquets, and cameras. They were bidding for my money, soul, and attention.

Last night I watched the Oscars. The Stars. The    every day people that we have exalted to pedestals, billboards, and statues. The spectacular people that made lots of money portraying ordinary people. 

I don’t know any of them. But it seemed like some of them were speaking directly to me. 

While it was cool to see the segments of stars revealing which stars inspired them to stardom, it was cooler to see what inspired their inner artist. 

The true artists remember who they are underneath whateve designer garment they are wearing or whatever jewelry adorns them. The true artists know they are best dressed when they are stripped down to the core of a character. 

The first person that caught my attention was a first time winner. Mahershala Ali rattled off the names of several teachers and professors that taught him the craft and how to be “in service to these stories, to these characters.” He talked about being blessed to have the opportunity. He was humble. He was real. 

And then there was Viola Davis. She talked about the gift of being an artist in the “only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life.” She then thanked the late, and great, August Wilson whom she said “exhumed and exalted the ordinary people.” 

And that’s it right there. 

It is the ordinary people that teach us how to live through their trials and errors. Think about it. When stars really reach down into the depths of their art and touch us on a personal level, who are they playing? The common man or woman. That’s what we understand. That’s what has a broad appeal and understanding. 

It wasn’t the stars on my wall that taught me the personal life lessons. It was the coaches, teachers, family friends, relatives who took the time to talk to me. It was the ordinary people who guided me in dark times and celebrated the victories. It was the every day people who taught me to find beauty and appreciation in the ordinary. 

And though they never found their way onto my wall, the ordinary people found their way into my life. 

In real life there are no trophies for living, no ceremony for success, and no yearly pomp and circumstance for the sake of getting dressed up and being seen.

 Instead there are those awkward talks while waiting for a ride after practice, the cautionary tales of “has beens” or “never wases” – you know the disposable people that we shouldn’t listen to because they aren’t on posters – that want you to achieve more than they did, the dedication to stay after class or practice to hone a craft, the phone call or letter of encouragement when you didn’t even realize that you needed it, the pat on the back to challenge you to try again after you failed.

All of those things are the gifts of the ordinary people. The people not found on walls or cereal boxes. The people found around the corner, down the hall, or on the other end of the phone line. The ordinary people know how to live and to love. It’s time we listen to them and acknowledge them. 

 And while I never honored them on my wall as a kid, I hope to honor them in my work as a person – as just one of the ordinary people.  




  • awards
  • 4 thoughts on “Ordinary People ”

    1. Sis says:
      February 28, 2017 at 8:18 am

      Yes!! Great post Bro. Mr. Smith, Mr. E, Gran, Poppy, Aunt K and the rest of our Ordinary People souls from decades gone by are smiling. Actually, I doubt they have ever stopped.

      Proud of You.

      Reply
    2. Pingback: FoF: Dropping the Needle
    3. Pingback: FoF: Dropping the Needle | Dad 2.0 Summit
    4. Pingback: FoF: Our Little Baby Century Is All Growns Up | Dad 2.0 Summit

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Subscribe to Blog via Email

    Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

    Do you “Like” The Captain?

    Do you “Like” The Captain?

    My audition for the new Most Interesting Man in the World. Actually, it's just me sitting by the fire waiting for the power to come back.

    A photo posted by Creed (@captain_creed) on Apr 4, 2016 at 11:47am PDT

    Recent Posts

    • Space Jam – A New Legacy
    • Quiet But Not Absent
    • 5 Ways Comics Improve Reading

    Archives

    • July 2021
    • March 2021
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • December 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • December 2011

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org
    I'm speaking at Dad 2.0 summit!
    © 2022 My Captain's Log | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme