Anything But Ordinary

I’m just going to ask this up front because it comes to mind. Who makes the rules, or gets to decide on what—in life—is considered ordinary? And what does ordinary even really mean? Cuz, I think the definition varies from person to person.

And really. Does anyone on the planet actually want to be that ordinary person? That boring person? Maybe. Maybe some people do. Most likely, those are the people who are anything but ordinary.

Is it just me, or are we all born with a deeply ingrained need to do something big, with our life, or in our life?

It’s not like we set out to change the world—or at least, not all of us. More likely, we need to do something memorable and special. Something good, so that when we die, people who loved us or knew us can look back and say, hey, that person did this huge, amazing thing. They made a contribution to the world, and we’re all better for it.

Maybe it comes back to not wanting to be ordinary, or boring. The problem is, doing something big, something special, takes not only effort, but courage. And courage doesn’t come easily for all of us.

That doesn’t mean we can’t find courage, just that it might take more effort for some of us to dig it up and put it to use.

Maybe courage is the difference between being ordinary and extraordinary. Courage, mixed with strength. Definitely. It takes a certain amount of courage for an artist to show his work to critics, or for an author to send his or her book to a publisher, agent, or even the reading public. Or think about a musician playing in front of an audience. It takes something we are not born knowing how to use, but which we all have buried somewhere deep down.

Do you agree? Disagree? Is there some other important ingredient that I’m forgetting to throw into the recipe? Because I have to tell you. Right now, I’m that person. I need to make my contribution to the world. I even have some ideas on how to do that. The trouble is I’m terrified. And what if that terror takes over and steals away my resolve before I get it done?

I know I’m not the only one, so spill. It takes something else. What is that thing and where can I get it?