Ordinary or Extraordinary?

I do not like the word ordinary. It infers boring, common, dull, lifeless, and uninteresting. I prefer the word extraordinary. The way it rolls off the tongue, it commands attention and interest. Extraordinary hints exceptional, amazing, unique, and wonderful. Yet, most of us in this world regard ourselves as ordinary human beings. Ordinary people go to school. Get a job, get married, have a family, grow old and die. Ordinary people drop out of school, get a job, quit a job, get married, get divorced, don’t have a family, don’t grow old and die. Ordinary people are happy, unhappy, angry, frustrated, lonely, motivated, lazy, scared, determined, safe, and overwhelmed. Ordinary people are on life’s journey. The journey contains many bumps and knocks along the way with many choices of directions to take. We delve into the unrehearsed, unknown and unexplained journey. We hope for the best. We hope it will turn out ok in the end. We sometimes journey alone, and sometimes with others. For all of us, we have one thing in common. We were born into this world, and we will die. The in between is the life we live here on planet earth.

For ordinary human beings, extraordinary things may happen, but deep down they remain ordinary. I have met thousands of ordinary people. Some have done and achieved extraordinary things, while others remain in a repeated, safe, daily environment. There are clear differences between ordinary people (OP) and ordinary people who do extraordinary things (OPET). The OP are drawn to security. They like routine. They compare themselves to others and frequently look back. They like consistency and stability. They do not like to rock the boat. They enjoy entertainment and distraction. They hate failure. They enjoy being ordinary, and that is fine. The OPET embrace failure and learn from it. They value every opportunity for learning and knowledge. They truly believe in themselves and their abilities. They work hard. They have clear goals and aim to become the very best version of themselves. They take responsibility for everything in their life.

‘There are no great people in this world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet.’ William Frederick Halsey, Jr. 

Most people will admit that they lead ordinary lives. Living an ordinary life is different in each person’s perspective. To me, the ordinary can be amazing. The daily sunrise and sunset, the song of the wind as it wails through the trees, the palette of colours that Mother Nature bestows on us with every season are evidence of routine and beauty. An ordinary life can also embrace the love and acceptance for who you are. It also means that life is complex with many hurdles to jump. An ordinary life can also be an extraordinary life. We just need the know-how and strategies from those who have experienced this growth and transformation, an awakening.