Is it okay not to have a role model?

My niece Gabby called me up the other day to ask me a question for her homework assignment: who are your role models? Perhaps this is an easy answer for everyone but for some reason I had no answer. This really shocked me because well doesn't everyone have a role model? I have always thought of myself as the odd one out but this question really threw me to left field. Was it possible that I lacked a role model? If so why?

So I did what anyone else would do and turned the question on her. Her response to the question was what you would expect from any 10-year-old: me, her father, Hannah Montana, and other celebrities that she likes. Believe me the list went on and on, which made me feel more and more like an oddity.

Of course I had to answer the question after her long list so I came up with my parents, short sweet to the point she had to be satisfied with that, right? WRONG! Apparently role models are a bit more extravagant than parents, so I threw in Bill Gates and Anne McCaffrey.

I know I know! I panicked! Then of course names are not enough for this assignment she needs reasons why they are your role models. Seriously why can't teachers just give assignments where you don't need to ask other people for the answers?

So in all honestly if I had role models they would be my parents because they lived the American dream. They came to New York as immigrants, studied, got jobs, climbed the ladder and prospered. Bill Gates because he turned and idea into billions of dollars and isn't that the dream of everyone? Anne McCaffrey because she's my favorite author. Her books got me through tough times growing up and whenever I am having a really bad time I escape to the world of Pern where humanity is just out there in it's barest forms. I've always liked how the world of Pern does not have religion. Personally I've always believed that religion is really what messed up our world in the first place because if you think of it most wars started because of religion. But I'm not a fool to think that to eliminate religion would make earth a utopia. Nope if Pern taught me anything it's that humans are humans and when there are no excuses for fighting there will always be that one person who wants to rule the world.

So she was finally satisfied with that and our phone call came to an end. Of course that's when I really started to wonder what was wrong with me that I don't have a role model?

Well it all boils down to the fact that I have made a habit of studying people and that little talent of mine has just bit me on the ass. First of all I think of role models as people you want to model your life after. Well that just cancels everyone off my list because honestly who wants someone else's life?

So there that's the problem I have never found one person on planet earth that I can say I want their life. See let's take an example I have always loved Mozart and grew up listening to him. But in all honestly when you look at his life do you really want to model your life after a crazy genius who died young because he was an alcoholic and never learned how to take care of himself?

Even Angelina Jolie doesn't have it all. Yes she is partnered with the most beautiful man in the world, has the most beautiful children, is a humanitarian and has a fantastic career. But she has a shaky relationship with her father, no privacy, and is always being judged by the world.

Okay okay if I had to choose a role model celebrity there is Johnny Depp but even he is misunderstood and had a rough childhood.

But Angelina and Johnny both make me feel that it's okay to be different as long as you are okay with it because the world will follow. So in that sense they are my role models.

So in conclusion, there are no people on earth who have a life that I want but I have a lot of people I admire for being different. I think that role modeling makes you a follower or ink on a stamp why be someone else if you could be yourself? So in that aspect I guess I'm not weird I'm just one of the lucky ones that realized it's okay to be a weirdo as long as you embrace your weirdness.