I learned a few days ago while I was struggling with something tied to success or failure in life: I am ordinary. All my life I always thought I was extraordinary, that I can’t see it now, but someday I will, that I’m being prepared for the extraordinary. When I failed at something, it felt like I was being ripped apart because someone who is extraordinary surely can afford a few successes. But I learned that we fight so hard to be extraordinary that we lose ourselves trying to be exceptional because we can’t be ordinary someone told us we can’t be ordinary as that’s a lesser life. I had to learn for myself that that’s not true, extraordinarie-ness (not a word) is either in you or not, some people are born extraordinary, but being ordinary like myself is nothing to be ashamed of, it means you work harder, appreciative of little successes. Being ordinary however doesn’t mean you get to be mediocre. I’m exceptionally ordinary… And I am okay with it, with not knowing much, with being sufficiently academically inclined in things that interest me, with my basic understanding of the world, I’m okay with that. I hope you find your extraordinary in your ordinary.