If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why?
My answer to this question depends on the parameters involved with being someone else. While I am spending the day as someone else, am I consciously aware that I am still myself but appearing to be in someone else’s life? Or do I just become that person entirely? Think the way they think, talk the way they talk, etc? If that’s what it means, I don’t want do that. There’s a reason I am who I am and not anybody else. I like certain things and would probably not be happy as someone else, even if for only a day. It would definitely be enlightening to live someone else’s life, but I can’t even imagine who I am curious enough about to really see how they live.
Now, on the other hand, if we’re speaking in general terms, I like the idea of being an A-list celebrity for a day. What is it like to be stalked by the paparazzi and having people coming up to you when you go to the store and talk about how great you were in a particular movie or show? Although from the interviews I’ve seen, not all of those fan interactions are like that. Some describe them as very strange, and some just downright rude. It would still be interesting to live that life and see what it’s like. Mainly because it’s so wildly different from my own.
In the absence of being able to actually switch lives with someone, I will be content to continue to practice empathy as much as possible. I’ll share my heart with those who need it. I’ll walk in their shoes metaphorically and try my best to understand their perspective. Honestly, we could all benefit from doing that. To rip off lyrics or a quote from somewhere that I can’t remember…what a wonderful world it would be.
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