Being Special vs. Fitting In

One of the great human paradoxes is that most people want to improve their lives but they don't want to change anything about themselves.  They frequently complain about their situation yet do nothing to fix it, either because they are too afraid of change or would rather blame someone else for their problems.  Improvement can only come with personal growth, not by expecting people to be impressed by anything we do.  We can't expect to be extraordinary if we refuse to adopt things like a stronger morale or a more rigorous work ethic.

Similarly, ordinary people want to be seen as extraordinary, while extraordinary people want to be seen as ordinary.  We falsely imagine that standing out would give us the attention we desire for being special.  Too much attention has the reverse effect; many people who are famous for one thing wish they'd never had it.  It becomes a branding, a burden, a heavy stone they carry throughout their lives.  A good parent would make an ordinary child feel special, and an extraordinary one feel normal.  The healthiest children feel a little of both; that they are talented at one or two things while fitting in at the same time.