Good Enough
30th Edition - August 24, 2023 - Averages, Scottish reindeer, and the value of clutter
Life isn't always a rollercoaster of thrill and exhilaration. Actually, and thankfully when I consider it, my life mostly isn’t. Mainly I would compare it to a slow and steady ride on a carousel. In a world where we're perpetually bombarded with messages that shout "strive for greatness" or "push beyond your limits," it's quite easy to feel that unless we're constantly achieving something monumental or experiencing high-octane excitement, we're falling short. But today, let's take a moment to cherish the wisdom in the phrase, "Good is good."
You might be wondering, what's so inspiring about being just good? And that's a valid question. I'd argue, though, that in a culture obsessed with chasing the extraordinary, there's a peculiar kind of bravery in embracing the ordinary. It should be no surprise to any of you who have read past entries from me that this is something I am working to accept in my own life.
In our everyday lives, we encounter situations that are overwhelmingly...average. The taste of your morning coffee. The humdrum commute to work. The lunch you've packed, maybe the same sandwich you've been eating all week. It's easy to dismiss these as mundane and insignificant. Yet, it's within this mundane that we find our moments of "good." These are not just ordinary moments, they are pockets of serenity, predictability, and comfort that act as an antidote to the clamor for exceptionalism that surrounds us. Our days are made of these small moments of good – uneventful, maybe, but no less meaningful.
Think about it. The unparalleled joy when your coffee is just right – not extraordinary, not life-changing, but just right. Isn't there beauty in that simplicity? My wife and I often talk about the need for rituals. She is very good at this. I am not. In fact, she really is a role model for me when it comes to being able to cherish the small acts of kindness that we can do for ourselves - sitting and enjoying an early morning breakfast with our dogs after waking up, quiet and mindful stretching before bedtime, and even the simple act of powering down electronics and actively choosing to read a book as a way to close out the long day. She habitually practices these tasks, and it is clear that they have become meaningful in their good-ness. There is nothing inherently special or extraordinary about any of these things, but together they create predictability around self-kindness and care.
Here's another way to look at it: Remember learning about averages? The 'average' is often misconstrued as inferior, but it's merely the most likely, the expected, the "good." What if we applied that to life? The 'average' day, filled with 'average' moments, isn't inferior – it's most likely, it's expected, it's good. The exceptional moments, the peaks and valleys of the aforementioned rollercoaster, are exhilarating, of course. But they are few and far between. Instead it's the carousel ride, steady and constant, that forms the backbone of our existence.
So, as we navigate our way through the ups-and-downs of life, let's take a moment to appreciate the good, the ordinary, and the comfortable. Let's find joy in the regular cup of coffee, the quiet commute, the comforting predictability of the same sandwich for lunch – these are the pixels that come together as a whole to form a snapshot of our life well-lived. And they are, indeed, very good.
I'll leave you with a prompt to reflect on this week: When was the last time you truly relished a moment of 'good'? What was a moment when you weren't reaching for the stars but found beauty in the ordinary? Share it with me in the comments below.
Here's to finding joy in the good, because remember, "Good is good."
Stay hydrated, and take “good” care!
Tim
A Quick Note to BOW Subscribers: One of the biggest things that motivates me to keep writing is the fact that there are currently 95 of you who have subscribed to read my words. 95! That in and of itself is humbling. Hitting that 100 subscriber mark is so close! It doesn’t really mean anything other than it’s a very cool personal milestone, and I would love your help getting there. If ever you felt like sharing my work with people who might be interested, now is the time. Or don’t and just keep reading. That is totally great, too! Most of all, thanks for being here.
What I’m Thankful For
Travel (and the UK):
Here’s something that goes beyond good into wonderful - I’ve just returned from two weeks abroad in London and the Scottish Highlands, and shortly after landing at Heathrow Airport I was instantly reminded why the it’s truly is one of my favorite places in the world. I am so lucky to be able to hop on a transatlantic flight to spend two weeks abroad, and I try very hard not to forget that. There is nothing, in my opinion, that reminds me more about how much I take for granted in my own life than travel. The moment I step out of my daily life and immerse myself in a different culture and environment, no matter how much it seems to mirror my own, the ease of daily life at home comes into clearer focus. Simple amenities, like how drinks are served and what foods are available in the grocery store, can be completely foreign elsewhere. The diverse customs, values, and lifestyles of people around the world provide a mirror, reflecting back the privileges and assumptions inherent in my own upbringing. It's these very contrasts and comparisons that deepen an understanding of my own place in the world and also shows me things that just work better in other places. Mostly, though, I’m reminded that people are the same no matter where I go. Sure, we’re ruled by customs and cultural expectations, but at our heart we’re really not very different. We all have the same basic needs, and life can be just as mundane in the bustle of London as it is in the suburbs of Upstate New York. At least that is what I tell myself as I am boarding the plane home, trying not to shed a tear or three!
There is good and ordinary to appreciate when traveling, too.
What I’m Reading & Listening To
Education:
Nat Eliason's Newsletter - Proof You Can Do Hard Things - Sometimes the best answer for why we should do something (learn calculus, take on public speaking, or practice a new language) is to simply prove that we can. And I love the advice Eliason gives that applies to educators talking to their students who love to ask, “When will I actually need this?”
From the Post - “But if we avoid hard things, anything mildly challenging will seem insurmountable. We’ll cry into TikTok over an errant period at the end of a text message. We’ll see ourselves as incapable of learning new skills, taking on new careers, and escaping bad situations. The proof you can do hard things is one of the most powerful gifts you can give yourself.”
Mental Health:
The Atlantic - Minimalism is Neat, but Clutter Makes the Home - As someone who has inherited a number of items over the years from people I love, some of whom are now gone from this world, I identified greatly with this essay, especially its themes of loss and memory.
The Curiosity Chronicle - It’s Later Than You Think - Time has been a theme for me lately, and this Substack post which came through my email via my Refind subscription reminded me that I need to spend more time visualizing the time I have left.
Looking for more ways to discover interesting writing on the Internet?
Check out “The Sample”: One of my favorite free newsletter discovery tools is called The Sample. I subscribed when I starting writing this newsletter months ago, and I’ve come across some interesting destinations since then. Based on interests and feedback, The Sample sends a new recommendation to your inbox on a daily or weekly basis. For too long my personal email has been a dumping ground for advertising spam and bill notifications. The Sample is one way I’m reclaiming some fun through email. Check it out and make your inbox more interesting, too!
Get smarter daily with Refind - Every day Refind picks 7 links from around the web for you, tailored to your interests. They have a great app, as well. In fact, I find many of the articles in this newsletter on Refind. Click here to subscribe for free today
