The Extraordinary Art of being…Ordinary

Somewhere along the way, I think we’ve forgotten the beauty in simplicity. Being ordinary became something we wanted to distance ourselves from, something we had to fix. We were always taught to stand out, to prove that we were above the average. But what was ever wrong with being ordinary?

 I recently watched the show, The Other Bennet Sister, and I found myself relating to Mary Bennet more than I felt proud of. Surrounded by sisters who were charming, witty, and effortlessly perfect, she constantly measured herself against them and was left feeling, inadequate. I understood that feeling more than I was willing to admit. Watching others excel can  quietly convince you that you’re not enough.

But as I reached the last episode, I had a sense of realization. Why was I ashamed for relating to Mary Bennet? She was a wonderful person who found her own strengths and marvelled in them. She had depth, sincerity, and eventually, had confidence in herself. Yes, she wasn’t the most charismatic character or the most intelligent, but she was happy. Happy being herself. And that was so important for me to see. So many of us are taught to find something and excel in it as if that’s the most important thing in the world. To make our mark. Do I love painting? Yes, but am I the best at it? No, not at all. Do I love writing? Of course, all I did in middle and high school was write short stories and poems. But was I a Jane Austen? Not by a mile. I loved dancing, singing, and even cooking, but I wasn’t a professional in any way.

The pressure to only pursue something if you can excel at it is the most harmful thing someone can do to themselves. It kills the chance of experiencing something new, something that could make you realize that you don’t have to be perfect in everything you do. There’s an art in being comfortable with being ordinary, and it’s not appreciated enough. Our beauty sometimes lies in the simple, basic things we do. In doing things not to impress, but to feel. Maybe then we’ll realize that the validation we’re always chasing was never truly out there to begin with.

‍ ‍Written by Sneha Neelangatil