Why An Ordinary Life Is Better
A few days ago, a video titled “Why I choose to live a boring life” caught my attention. And Sophie, a Youtuber, believes that living an ordinary life is what she wants to be happy. In her video content, Sophie argues that normal living life can be a comfortable lifestyle instead of pursuing a privileged life. I would claim that I strongly agree with her views on mundane life. However, I found out her idea is too absolute and lacks a concrete analysis of the reasons for this phenomenon. Therefore, the remainder of this article will specifically analyze why ordinary life can be happy and why we should cherish the hard-earned ordinary life of the present while pursuing the dream of becoming a better part of ourselves.
What is an ordinary life? To commence with, we need to know the exact meaning of ordinary: average ability and value, considered sluggish, uninspired, clumsy, conspicuously lacking in character or strengths. It also means the absence of noteworthy events. Suppose you went to cook a yummy but ubiquitous lunch, which was your daily routine. Would you suddenly post it to Instagram to show it off? Most probably not. Then little daily events like this, one by one, would add up to an interpretation of ordinary life. Ordinary life is the small, inconspicuous activities that always happen in our daily lives.
I don’t know when living an ordinary life has become a derogatory term. Because in the opinion of many elders, living an ordinary life is blissful. Too many fellows, including myself, mundane life can have many benefits and positive effects. 1) The mundane life is very peaceful and restful and can bring mental and physical peace to those who dislike turmoil. 2) A routine life can give everyone more time and energy to spend with their family, friends, and loved ones. 3) Living an ordinary life means freedom because there is no need to pretend or care about what others may think to be true to oneself.
If ordinary life is so attractive, why do so many people, especially young people, still pursue an extraordinary life? But as a teenager, it is not difficult for me to understand how this phenomenon arises. In recent 15 years, with the rapid growth of social media and the need for capital to increase consumption, various social media apps such as Facebook and Instagram have seen various internet celebrities posting their travel photos or the latest trendy clothes, jewelry, and so on. This is nothing but a meaning to the audience: “Don’t live so ordinary; live this privileged life like me.” In consequence, the mentality of climbing takes root in the psyche of vibrant and passionate youth. This eventually leads to their dissatisfaction with the mundane life of the present and the pursuit of a different life.
It must be acknowledged that it is desirable for some hip young people to live a privileged and different life from most people. For them, it is indeed a kind of “happiness” that belongs to them, their subjective sense of “happiness.” They might want more attention or things others cannot have, such as travel, cars, or nice clothes. This fast-paced and eccentric life is their way of living happily.
However, contrary to the above point of view, Sophie uses her personal experience to show her audience that not everyone is seeking an extraordinary life. Sophie also tried to travel and buy all kinds of clothes in the past, but then she realized that it was not the life she wanted. She thinks that after watching what others do and pursuing that kind of life herself, it’s like she’s not living for herself but living as someone else. From Sophie’s experience, Sophie’s personal experience makes me more convinced to live an ordinary and fulfilling life where I can have the time and energy to be fully present with my family, friends, and partner. A life where I can enjoy the process of accomplishing a small thing, such as making breakfast, washing and drying clothes, or taking a walk, instead of always thinking about getting a direct result.
The pursuit of a remarkable, privileged life means that it can have many bad effects on these young people: 1) The excessive pursuit of change in life may interfere with the happiness that has been achieved in the present moment; 2) People are tired of being exposed to social media and information for long periods. This exposure could have an invisible influence on us and might cause anxiety; 3) Living life with millions of eyes everywhere requires maintaining one’s persona and not being able to be true to oneself. These side effects make some people, including me, more inclined to pursue some routine rather than a single-minded pursuit of change. This doesn’t mean we should have no dreams anymore, but rather enjoy the happiness we have at the moment while embracing them.
Although the above two different ways of living and attitudes toward life sound appealing, I would like to raise a missing point about Sophie’s perspective. That is, those who do not have the opportunity to choose the way they live their lives. Maybe we don’t experience that because we are born with everything. Food, shelter, clothing, and yet there are so many people in the world who are born into low-income families who have nothing. When we argue about which way of life is the real happiness, we often ignore these people who live at the bottom. They either do not have an intact family or are physically disabled. They may not have the right to experience which way of life is right for them. They struggle to make ends meet every day to stay alive. Perhaps for them, what we think of as “ordinary” life: a natural awakening and a hearty breakfast, is a dream life for children in the war zone of the Middle East.
The obsessive expectation of a highly privileged life that has yet to be realized may not be the most brilliant choice for us, but instead, we are encouraged to embrace ordinary life. More significantly, as we cherish these bits and pieces of life, we need to reflect on how we can make life happier for those who do not have the opportunity to choose their lifestyle.
