Hey, you! I see you over there. You’re comparing yourself to your friends, family members, co-workers, and every ‘celebrity’ under the sun. And you seem to think that you come up lacking somehow, don’t you?
Or, you’re constantly feeling the pressure to be just a little bit prettier-skinnier-smarter-better-more perfect… God, I hate that word. Perfect. It shouldn’t exist, really. Who gets to say what perfect is, anyway? Who gets to say what’s really ‘best’ when the goalposts just keep moving every single day?
I just want to tell you that, first of all, you are killing it at this life thing. Even if it feels like you’re failing, you’re not. You woke up and breathed today? That’s what you’re supposed to do! Feel like crawling into a hole and never coming out? That’s okay, too. Nobody has to be happy all the time. There’s literally no rule that says you can’t have a really crappy day, week, month, or even year. For the record, I hope that your crappy days are far fewer than your good ones, but it’s okay if it takes a while for the balance to sort itself out.
Please, do yourself a favor. Be gentle to you. The world has plenty of people to tell you that you’re not good enough, but you have me to tell you that this is bull-malarkey. You are good enough exactly as you are, even if you think it’s nothing spectacular.
Average is reliable. Average is good enough. And being average doesn’t ever mean you won’t be great — heck, some people find greatness in being average. Always strive to be the best you that you can be, but please stop comparing yourself to the rest of the world. The things that they are great at may not be the things that you will be great at. That’s how it’s supposed to be.
And while we’re talking about greatness, why don’t we mention the things that really matter? Sure, it’s great that there are some really awesome singers in the world. And outstanding acting is certainly moving. Being the greatest Youtube sensation the world has ever known has got to be pretty rewarding, I’m sure.
But how about those other things you’re good at that you probably don’t even think about? A beautiful song can brighten up a day, but a kind word, a smile, or a simple gesture of kindness can literally save a life. Being great at being kind is an amazing skill to have, but even being average at it can be life-changing, too.
Greatness can be inspiring, that’s for sure. But don’t overlook the absolute importance of being average, because average can be more amazing than you might even realize.
