The Virtue of Normalcy
It is as if time in college is not legitimized if one day doesn't go by without the exclamation of ambitious individuals denouncing others for being "ordinary", for their lack of shared ambition for the "extraordinary" and the "outstanding". This is an exaggeration, of course, but why is being normal such an abnormal state of being, why can't one live life with the maxim of pursuing normalcy and simplicity.
To be fair, this is something seemingly ingrained in American life, that individuals must embrace bold, outspoken attitudes, ridding themselves of what's ordinary. But why must it be so? Is it because a democratic society demands outspoken individuals to function? That doesn't seem to make sense, plenty of "non-individualistic" (using the word here without much thought) cultures seem to boast well with a functioning democracy. Then is it because America was born out of an independence movement crying for self-governance? Well, can't the same be said of much of the former British Empire?
Maybe there is no obvious answer here as to why it has become the norm (!) for the seemingly non-stop pursuit of the extraordinary. But let us consider, for one moment, the beauty of simplicity. To me, the most beautiful moments of life are the most ordinary ones. It is to watch the sunset with your loved ones, an event that has repeated itself millions of times already for as long as Earth has existed. It is to enjoy the rain from the comfort of one's room, letting the mind be free and ponder in peace. It is to let that tear fall when you're touched by the sound of music or the sight of a painting. It is to share the plainest and most minor events of life to your loved ones. It is to go through everyday tasks and realizing that it is the ordinary that makes our lives extraordinary, that we can only be doing so because of the extraordinariness of this world.
Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the occasional surprises and big events of life. But to me, those are just minor parts of life that provide some contrast. Ultimately, it is to follow the flow of life and simply be content, with the occasional interruption of will and surprise.
To be fair, this is something seemingly ingrained in American life, that individuals must embrace bold, outspoken attitudes, ridding themselves of what's ordinary. But why must it be so? Is it because a democratic society demands outspoken individuals to function? That doesn't seem to make sense, plenty of "non-individualistic" (using the word here without much thought) cultures seem to boast well with a functioning democracy. Then is it because America was born out of an independence movement crying for self-governance? Well, can't the same be said of much of the former British Empire?
Maybe there is no obvious answer here as to why it has become the norm (!) for the seemingly non-stop pursuit of the extraordinary. But let us consider, for one moment, the beauty of simplicity. To me, the most beautiful moments of life are the most ordinary ones. It is to watch the sunset with your loved ones, an event that has repeated itself millions of times already for as long as Earth has existed. It is to enjoy the rain from the comfort of one's room, letting the mind be free and ponder in peace. It is to let that tear fall when you're touched by the sound of music or the sight of a painting. It is to share the plainest and most minor events of life to your loved ones. It is to go through everyday tasks and realizing that it is the ordinary that makes our lives extraordinary, that we can only be doing so because of the extraordinariness of this world.
Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the occasional surprises and big events of life. But to me, those are just minor parts of life that provide some contrast. Ultimately, it is to follow the flow of life and simply be content, with the occasional interruption of will and surprise.
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