大象传媒

Abdul-Rehman Malik, journalist and broadcaster

Chris, when I was young I used to imagine what it would be like to be a bona fide celebrity. I鈥檝e never had any great musical or acting talent, so my aspirations to stardom were entirely unfounded, but I used to love watching awards shows and thinking about the acceptance speech I would give when I received an Oscar or a Grammy. My speeches, at least as I delivered them in the shower, were always pretty good. Instead, I鈥檝e had to console myself with brief encounters with some real stars. One of those run-ins is particularly memorable. You won鈥檛 remember Hugh, but we鈥檝e actually met before.

听

About 20 year ago, I was in university and had walked over to what was then Toronto鈥檚 only really fancy coffee bar. I was dying for a latte, but the fellow in front of me was anxiously rummaging through his pockets trying to find the right change. All the time he was worriedly running his hand through his hair and apologising profusely in a British accent. At that moment, the front door of the caf茅 flung open and someone shouted, 鈥渇or God鈥檚 sake, hurry up, the crew can鈥檛 wait all day!鈥� The anxious Englishman turned around 鈥� and knocked squarely into me. 鈥淪o terribly sorry!鈥� he said hesitating. I鈥檓 cool man, I said, trying to sound cool, because by this time I had realised it was Hugh Grant.

听

Surveys shows that young people have never desired fame and wealth more than they do today. A 75-year long Harvard University study on happiness tells us something a bit different. It鈥檚 something I think we already know in our gut: pursuing notoriety and money for notoriety and money鈥檚 sake will make us miserable. Few can attain the success of the guests facing me today.

听

What鈥檚 the answer then? Billy gave it to us long ago when he sang, 鈥淵ou don't have to be alone/Together we can live and learn/In the love zone鈥�. Over the course of the study, it was the presence of good, loving relationships in people鈥檚 lives that made them really happy.

听

鈥淏ringing joy听to听one heart听with听love,鈥� advised the mystic Rumi 鈥渋s听better than a thousand repetitive recitations of prayer.鈥� I鈥檇 think we鈥檇 all like to be famous for giving joy and love. The folks in the studio this morning do that by making beautiful music, great films, meaningful telly and supporting charities. Celeb or not, that鈥檚 an ambition we can all get behind. Just don鈥檛 keep the desperate fellow standing behind you in line waiting too long for his latte.