I remember what the word meant as a kid, as a teenager, even as a young adult.

Popular was something everyone wanted, 

consciously or otherwise. 

It didn’t matter what group you ran with, you wanted to be liked, to be noticed, 

but in a good way.

It doesn’t even matter what generation you’re from. 

We all had our version of what popular was. 

Speaking with my parents it sounded the same then, 

and listening to kids now tells me it hasn’t changed.

But popular as an adult…. ugh. 

The vast majority of people I know no longer want to be popular. 

In fact, we sometimes wish we were invisible.

So many demands on our time, so many responsibilities and people depending on us.

Popular as an adult means no one else can do your job, and everyone needs you at the same time. 

It’s not a good thing these days.

I look back fondly on the days when popular meant what it was in the movies

Fast cars, attractive young people at the prime of life, without any real worries

And now I watch as wrinkles appear in my mirror, 

wondering when it cracked like that.