Because, admit it, those people from school who never left the local area, settled down, had kids – you always thought they were failures, didn’t you? It didn’t matter how happy they were. There was an ugly shame attached to such a life. We associated it with a lack – of talent, of intelligence, of the fullness of our own mega-exciting lives. This stopped many of us from ever considering if we were actually cut out for ‘exceptional’, thus condemning us to inevitable burnout.
I appreciate this read as a much needed reminder. I have been seeking work to aid into shifting to a solo studio or casita and a vehicle. The job offers are either volunteer or come with a stipulation I cannot accept. Been getting frustrated.
This read gently reminds of what is most important and stems from a peaceful, calmer way of being.
Thanks for your thoughts, Delwood Barker. I guess I was reacting to the idea that anyone who slows down, does work that is basic, stops desiring fame and status should feel average or ordinary. Au contraire! That is when that person’s extraordinary and unique qualities will be evident. I feel she was judging herself with the metrics of her old life.
Plum
And along that line, I also think she was talking to the peers of her old life:
Because, admit it, those people from school who never left the local area, settled down, had kids – you always thought they were failures, didn’t you?
Clearly, the people who stayed in the local area aren’t addressed here!
But despite your fair remarks about labeling as average and judging, I think there was good intention behind this article. The language might even help her talk to people in her old life mindset.
I strongly disagree with the author. Calling anyone average or ordinary is missing everything she is trying to gain and it is a false way to look at life. The author is judging and judging wrongly. What is true is that no one is ordinary and no life is average. These are false holdover ideas from all that was wrong about school. Each of us is extraordinary, a miracle and there is no life that is average.
I, conversely, felt the author, Lotte, is conveying through Lotte and the individuals represented that the “ordinary” here is the pursuit outside of the egoic rat race that leaves so many feeling empty. The ordinary of a slower life with more sense of ease in purpose. Naturally, each life will color inside and outside of lines with a unique style. I didn’t get a sense of judgement. I actually feel I can relate because I am privileged to be in a space allowing me to suss out the next life chapter and in many ways I keep getting stuck in how do I do something that stands out and can be self-activating and sustaining when deep down I hear a voice saying, “simplify. Learn mundane tasks and work. Learn survival skills. Planting and gardening.” Neither average; nor ordinary skills; however not flashy and speedily success driven either.
Your comment leads me to want to read it again to see if I missed the judgements.
I thought the author was tenderly suggesting slow down and work at your own pace without the pressure of non-stop; go, go, go.
I appreciate this read as a much needed reminder. I have been seeking work to aid into shifting to a solo studio or casita and a vehicle. The job offers are either volunteer or come with a stipulation I cannot accept. Been getting frustrated.
This read gently reminds of what is most important and stems from a peaceful, calmer way of being.
Thanks for your thoughts, Delwood Barker. I guess I was reacting to the idea that anyone who slows down, does work that is basic, stops desiring fame and status should feel average or ordinary. Au contraire! That is when that person’s extraordinary and unique qualities will be evident. I feel she was judging herself with the metrics of her old life. Plum
And along that line, I also think she was talking to the peers of her old life:
Clearly, the people who stayed in the local area aren’t addressed here!
But despite your fair remarks about labeling as average and judging, I think there was good intention behind this article. The language might even help her talk to people in her old life mindset.
I strongly disagree with the author. Calling anyone average or ordinary is missing everything she is trying to gain and it is a false way to look at life. The author is judging and judging wrongly. What is true is that no one is ordinary and no life is average. These are false holdover ideas from all that was wrong about school. Each of us is extraordinary, a miracle and there is no life that is average.
I, conversely, felt the author, Lotte, is conveying through Lotte and the individuals represented that the “ordinary” here is the pursuit outside of the egoic rat race that leaves so many feeling empty. The ordinary of a slower life with more sense of ease in purpose. Naturally, each life will color inside and outside of lines with a unique style. I didn’t get a sense of judgement. I actually feel I can relate because I am privileged to be in a space allowing me to suss out the next life chapter and in many ways I keep getting stuck in how do I do something that stands out and can be self-activating and sustaining when deep down I hear a voice saying, “simplify. Learn mundane tasks and work. Learn survival skills. Planting and gardening.” Neither average; nor ordinary skills; however not flashy and speedily success driven either.
Your comment leads me to want to read it again to see if I missed the judgements.
I thought the author was tenderly suggesting slow down and work at your own pace without the pressure of non-stop; go, go, go.
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Plum.
The unpredictability and need for everything to be done as quickly as possible, but also with no error, was so consuming.