I am average and that’s ok. Most of us are, and it’s not a bad thing. There will always be someone you see as better looking than you, more talented, or smarter. There will always be someone richer, or more successful. And the converse is also true. There will always be people who look at you as being better looking or more talented, or smarter than they are. There will always be people needier or struggling harder than you. So why not embrace average? Why not focus on your own successes, your own talents, your own accomplishments? Don’t drag yourself down by measuring yourself against someone else’s success or wealth. And don’t become arrogant by comparing yourself to someone less fortunate. Recognize yourself for who you are with all your pluses and minuses and work hard to make the world a little bit better place because you’re in it.
Average does not mean, ‘not good enough’ and we must never allow that phrase to define us. Average simply means that there are some people who can do things better than we can, and there are some people who don’t do things as well as we do. It means that there are people who have had opportunities that we have not, and there are people who haven’t had the breaks that we’ve received.
Average also implies balance. We live our lives between the extremes. We are not the richest people in the world nor are we in the deepest poverty, (and it is likely that we will never be either). Our lives are simple and complicated, easy and hard, upbeat and downtrodden, happy and sad; but we do our best to manage the highs and the lows. We recognize that both will happen and we pick ourselves up at the low times and appreciate the high times with thankfulness. We strive for even keel rather than roller coaster.
Average means that we don’t expend all of our time and energy chasing after super-stardom, or truckloads of money. We’re not consumed with thoughts of power or wealth. We find satisfaction in the love of our families, the closeness of our friendships and the successes of our day to day accomplishments.
Average does not mean that we settle for mediocre or that we are lazy. Our days are filled with challenges that we don’t shy away from. We have responsibilities and obligations that we conscientiously seek to satisfy. We may have people who depend on us or jobs that count on our contributions, and we attend to those charges with dedication and commitment.
And finally, average does not mean that we are not special. We ALL are very special in many ways! We all have something to offer, something that can make the world a better place, and we understand that true change happens one person at a time. By touching even one life, we have made a difference. We all are as unique as snowflakes with a multiplicity of talents and that’s what we bring to the table. We are special because of who we are, and what we give. We are special because we are fearfully and wonderfully made by a loving God.
So the next time you look in the mirror and see an average person, rejoice. For you are seeing someone who can change the world one person at a time by simply sharing your love. Average blends our strength and our patience together so that we can face our challenges and succeed.
Average folks are the backbone of our country. You are in good company.
Be the best average person you can be!