In praise of being ordinary

I don’t see myself as special. I don’t mind being familiar, a type.

An ordinary person is reasonable and prudent. A normal day is nor-mal - not bad. I may not win the lottery ( but I have normal hopes), and I may not have to sing opera; I just go about my business normally.

Ordinary events, every day moments, these are gems that are valuable. The sun comes up every day. My daughter tells me she loves me when we finish a phone call. My son is proud to tell me he has had a good day at work. The trip to work doesn’t include a crash, even if a traffic jam is predictable. Spring comes after winter.

That is comfortable. What’s wrong with being comfortable

I don’t understand why so many normal people try so hard to mark a mark and climb out of the crowd – what’s wrong with asking for ‘the usual’ at the pub, or having a conventional hair cut? Why does ‘routine’ have such a bad image?

With so many special cases, so many people busting their guts to be outstanding or exceptional, to be superior or celebrities, us ordinary folk are being left behind and are now in a minority.

Being called ordinary has become a de facto insult of feint praise?

What is it about being told that your performance is only ordinary that is supposed to be insulting? The idea of conforming or being one of the crowd seems to be a matter for which some think I should feel shame

Well, I don’t.

I think we need a cultural renaissance in support of the normal and ordinary amongst us, and frequent praise for those whose daily life is ordinary, doing ordinary stuff.

Please contribute your point of view to the discussion