Why an Ordinary Life Can Be a Good Life

The modern age equates a good life with being extraordinary and distinguished. But the truth is likely to be quite different: learning to cherish and appreciate an ordinary life belongs to wisdom and the art of living.

FURTHER READING

“We live in an age with a high regard for extraordinary lives – that is, lives that the vast majority of us will never lead. Our heroes have made outsized fortunes, appeared on gigantic screens and demonstrated unique virtue and talent. Their achievements are both dazzling and continuously, in the background, humiliating…”

MORE SCHOOL OF LIFE

Watch more films on CAPITALISM in our playlist:

SOCIAL MEDIA

Feel free to follow us at the links below:

CREDITS

Produced in collaboration with:

Mike Booth

[ShubhamBhushanCC]

An ordinary life is an extraordinary achievement. To be content and to find happiness in the everyday chaos we call life, is not a small achievement

[cynicalcenobia]

This channel is a lifesaver. A quiet life is not synonymous to a failed life.

[highrevs]

Ordinary is great. I’m 88 now and since my seventies I have realised that enough is plenty.
Don’t strive for more unless it helps others.

[arashbozorgi]

Persian proverb: " The bigger your yard, the more snow for you to plough, so be happy and live a simple life."

[charmedprince]

All my life i've been chasing gold and fame until i one day realized all i really need is a small hut near a creek and flower garden and vegetable patch on the side. Fresh air, some tree shade, and etrrnal sunshine. And alas i'm halfway there

[thinbeast]

Its no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.
-Bilbo Baggins

[kibi]

My worst fear is mediocrity, so this was actually really comforting

[theaxisofinsight]

The surest way to lead a miserable life is to constantly read about or watch very successful people. It makes you feel like your life is a waste.

[mop]

We’re almost made to feel guilty for enjoying and appreciating the simple things in life these days. That we are somewhat of a failure if we just feel gratitude for what we have, love the life we have, and the people we share it with.
This was truly lovely. ☺️♥️

[capoeirask]

My mother cleans a ton of rich people homes, she told me “the richer the people, the more anti-depressants I find”

[ncb]

This is so important - it should be taught to kids in school. When the dream becomes the expectation, it's a recipe for depression and low self-worth.

[ScoutsHonor.]

As someone who grew up in poverty in America it’s hard to realize this when you have hunger pains. It’s all smoke and mirrors. You have far bigger things to worry about than your mental health and a correct perspective on life. It’s constant survival. It wasn’t until I became an adult and started making money is when I even had the ability to see life clear enough to realize being rich was pointless and whoever made that the sensation to chase was honestly evil.

[alanmarino]

I was born to a middle class family. My mom was single, but she struggled everyday so my sister and I had food and education. Watching this video makes me appreciate even more her tough and sacrified labour.

[debbiemoore]

The irony is that I finally get, no matter how much money you have, what car you drive none of it matters we all die and the cosmic irony is even if you leave a legacy even that doesn't matter because the universe like ourselves is dying. So just do you and leave it all on the field. Fear nothing, feel no envy for anybody as we all end up with a tag on our toe so that makes us all yes unique but the same.

[dewi]

I need more videos like this; the art or ordinary, the minimalist life, the humble lifestyle.

[ohcrikey]

When I look back over the years with my partner, I find that my most precious memories are those of us doing simple things. Walking the dog. Sitting on a bench in the park on a lovely summer day having a picnic. Talking in the bath. Those memories are more precious to me than the 'big stuff' like the fabulous holidays we've been on. Having extraordinary experiences and seeing the world and having great things are all well and good but it really is the simple things in life that matter.

[novahynes]

Beautiful message! To live a good "ordinary" life is an extraordinary achievement. Few of us ever get to do it, though we all aspire to it. Very few people will ever be remembered in history and it's only one's ego that makes one want to be one of them. Every selfless act, whether on the world stage or in one's "ordinary" life is worth celebrating.

[tiinamaijaart]

Ordinary life can be very lovely. It's just about perception and what you've learned to appreciate in life. :)

[richtea]

The secret to life is being thankful and content with what your life already is, not worrying about what it's not.

[alexcortez]

I have to constantly remind myself that being 'okay' is not bad. Be glad that you're okay. Some people aren't.