The Beauty of "Average" Life
The Beauty of "Average" Life
Savoring Mundane Moments and Unsung Heroes in a Culture Obsessed with the Epic
“The most extraordinary thing in the world is an ordinary man and an ordinary woman and their ordinary children.” ― G.K. Chesterton
There are voices in this society convincing us that if we’re not hallway-high stacking superstars, we’re abject failures grinding out grey lives not worth Instagramming. I speak from experience when I say these voices foster more toxicity than a lead-paint smoothie. And frankly, we need an intervention before it consumes the last remnants of our self-worth.
This narrative tells us we should live on the edge lives, scaling high peaks before breakfast and landing media appearances between workouts while amassing seven passive income streams. Oh, and finding time to train shelter dogs and read classics to sick kids at night.
I once believed the voice and bought in hard. Cue savage ambition, workaholism, credit card debt…and anxiety. Along the way, I almost lost my sanity and came one crow’s foot shy of needing sleep intervention.
It was only when life forced me to pause and recognize all that I already had that the voice began to fade. Mine wasn’t a story destined for Shark Tank. My eyes opened.
The most dangerous voices are often inside our heads, hijacking our humanity. But we can liberate ourselves and write a different story. Through these lines, I hope to expand our narrow definitions of success and celebrate the courage of “ordinary” people persevering through “average” days.
Humanity’s True Grit
Our culture puts the Kardashians on pedestals like ancient Greeks exalted Hercules — craving larger-than-life icons of greatness to idolize and aspire towards. But the glossy hundreds of millions of Instagram followers blind us to where quiet courage so often blooms — in the privacy of ordinary homes filled with far more humble heroes.
Consider the steady perseverance of parents raising good human beings in a world spinning faster than a Tilt-a-Whirl off its axis. Moms and dads are expected to be behavioral specialists and social media consultants while working full-time jobs, nourishing partnerships, managing homes, and modeling maturity for young eyes.
There are no sick days or holidays when it comes to parenting. There are no trophies or seven-figure checks when navigating teen years without therapy. And little recognition for the infinite patience needed to teach basics like kindness, self-worth, and responsibility day after day. It’s a marathon with tiny humans depending on you to make it across the finish line.
Yet popular media offers little air time for such ordinary feats worthy of our respect. Reality TV glorifies extremes, while social platforms spotlight flawless snapshots over messy processes. We compare our daily behind-the-scenes to the highlight reels of others and feel second-rate. But we owe everyday parents — and all who persevere through mundane realities — more credit.
Their steady commitment in the face of exhaustion fuels families, shapes society’s future leaders, and nurtures communities — one bedtime story, home-cooked meal, and bear hug at a time. Now, that’s greatness. Even if tabloids and X trend alerts fail to notice. We see you, humble heroes.
“Just staying alive is a daily act of heroism.” — Lucy Grealy
Leaning Into Ordinary Moments
It sounds about as exciting as watching concrete dry, but leaning into ordinary moments is the secret sauce that makes life feel meaningful. And the best part? This elixir is free and available anytime.
For me, ordinary moments are like walking while listening to an interesting podcast, writing my next idea, and laughing uncontrollably with my kids or friends. Other times, it’s sitting beside them reading a book, feeling content with the company.
None of it is flashy. But it fills me up in ways no sports car, beach vacation, or inauguration party could match.
I’m learning to anchor myself more in these moments rather than grasping for something brighter, more extensive, and bolder. Mundane moments always outnumber the mountaintop ones — trying to live life as a nonstop highlight reel is guaranteed to disappoint. Besides, the spectacular loses its luster without the ordinary to balance it out. Like a decadent dessert, we only have so much capacity.
Life becomes more prosperous when we stop hunting stimulation and learn to inhabit average days. Studies back this up, too — showing connections between savoring simple pleasures and increased happiness. An extraordinary life has less to do with goal achievement and more with presence.
But presence needs practice in a world forever dangling shiny objects, promising the next one will finally please us. Social media serves up filtered versions of reality that center only on peak moments. At the same time, ads whisper lies that acquisition brings nirvana. Is it any wonder anxiety and depression rates are soaring when disconnected from the grace of the ordinary?
We have airbrushed role models and curated lifestyles lobbed at us from all angles. Let’s call off the quest for spectacle and regain our collective sanity. I’m ready to celebrate mundane moments again — admiring how golden hour light bathes familiar rooms and faces with magic. Absorbing the laughter of my kids playing tag as we wander past a park. Letting go of sharing every moment of my life with the rest of the world.
Refocusing the Narrative
We’ve got to expand our definitions of success while freeing ourselves from striving and comparing journeys. Positive psychology guru Tal Ben-Shahar said: “Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure, engagement, and meaning.” This sweet spot will look different for each of us.
For Marcus, it’s nurturing community and fellowship as a youth pastor. For Jeff, it means adventure and service while guiding wilderness expeditions. My intersection may center more around family, creativity, and connecting with readers like you. But one path isn’t better — just different.
When we stop evaluating our self-worth based on income, social media stats, or sensational experiences, we also make room for others’ versions of our lives. My hunch is we’ll feel less restless and irritated once we ditch the scarcity mindset that happiness is reserved only for the fastest, strongest, and wealthiest among us.
Here’s another crucial mindset shift: recognizing that rather than waiting for that “special day or thing” to uncork our good china or book the luxurious getaway we “deserve,” fulfillment blossoms when we start savoring the present.
Postponing enjoyment for someday not only robs us of current joy but suggests this moment lacks. Talk about denying the glory staring us in the face daily! That stunning sunrise, our child confiding a struggle, the privilege of having a vision, youth, or loved ones beside us — all worthy of uncorking the metaphorical champagne.
Mundane moments shimmer once we quit taking the grace of average days for granted. Life becomes less about chasing external highs and more about leaning into the full spectrum of each moment.
Imagine if we started celebrating ordinary people. Those persevering through illness or tough hands? Talents used to strengthen families and communities vs star power? It may not sell magazines, but it’s the storyline this world needs.
“Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.” — Oscar Wilde
Here’s the bottom line: we can waste precious resources measuring our ordinary days against the highlight reels of others and come up short every time. Or we can reclaim our freedom to script our definitions of triumph without seeking the world’s approval or input.
The choice comes down to believing the mainstream narratives around success versus embracing the power we have to celebrate the beauty of the “average.” To recognize the incredible courage shown by those persevering through mundane realities and profound struggles seldom captured for mass consumption. We need to anchor more in presence right where we stand today, not needing to wait for some imaginary ‘special occasion’ to feel our lives matter.
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to be more intentional about noticing unsung heroes and refracting light on their quiet contributions to this world. I want to model for my kids the kind of man who finds contentment in simplicity rather than always craving ‘more.’ And I want to release unrealistic expectations around achievement that serve me — and perhaps you — less and less the older we get.
Because here’s the paradox: gratitude, wonder, and grace most often bloom in life’s ordinary spaces. Yet we’re tempted to race through them, scanning the horizon for the next novelty.
How much joy, connection, and meaning are we sacrificing in blind pursuit of some fictionalized lifestyle? What parts of yourself have gotten lost or muted trying to play a game you were never meant to win? How might leaning into the ordinary expand your happiness and sense of purpose?
I don’t have the answers to these questions. But I believe extraordinary lives are often ordinary days stacked with care, courage, and compassion. And that’s a legacy worth pursuing.
Are we ready to reject mainstream narratives around success to embrace and celebrate the average in all its glory? What might happen if we did?
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