Ordinary People Achieve Extraordinary Things - Why aren't you?

“The greatest results in life are
usually attained by simple means and
the exercise of ordinary qualities.
These may be for the most part
summed up in these two:
commonsense and perseverance.”
(Owen Feltham, English writer)

If I was to ask you to name the five wealthiest people in the world, or to name three people who have won the Nobel or Archibald Prize, or to name the last five winners of the Brownlow Medal or the Dally M Medal or the last five winners of Best Actor in the Academy Awards, would you struggle? How did you go? Many of us would have trouble answering one of these, let alone all of these questions. (Okay, there may be a trivia savant out there, who scored 100%, but it’s not me and it’s probably not you.)

Even though it’s interesting or important to us at the time, as life moves on, we care little, and remember less of the past successes of these great people. Their successes eventually fade into oblivion, the applause evaporates into the ether and their achievements and awards are often forgotten altogether.

If on the other hand I was to ask you to name three teachers who helped you through school, or three friends who have stood by you through a difficult time, or five people who have taught you something worthwhile, or to name five people who have made you feel special and appreciated, or five people you enjoy spending time with, then the challenge is much easier, isn’t it?

As Charles Schulz, creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip (one of my favourites) muses: the lesson here is that the people who make a real difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards; they are the ones who care about you. They are ordinary people, who have affected your life in an extraordinary way.

Perseverance, persistence, and patience are qualities that ultimately can affect our destiny. Perhaps one of the greatest examples of a life built on these three qualities is that of the great American President, Abraham Lincoln. If ever there was a lesson in not giving up, it is the story of Abraham Lincoln. His perseverance, his persistence and patience is both inspirational and legendary.

Lincoln was born into poverty, was beset by personal tragedy, (when his fiancée died), suffered a nervous breakdown, experienced multiple business failures and bankruptcy, and lost eight elections before rising to the highest possible office in the country as the President of the United States in 1860. Lincoln never gave up; he persisted when many others would have given up in the face of such heartbreaking obstacles.

Yes, most of us, who consider ourselves to be, just ordinary people, can achieve extraordinary things if we have a mind to, and if the circumstances unfold in a way, to allow us to seize the opportunity in front of us. It’s not only about what we achieve ourselves, but it’s also, how we might make a significant difference in the life of another person, or lots of people for that matter. English theologian, Julies Hare wrote:

“Be what you are.
This is the first step towards becoming
better than you are.”

There are many people who don’t see themselves as ‘talented or gifted’ and it’s to these people, I say ‘go for it’. Each of us is unique and each person has different skills, interests and talents. Find your passion and pursue it. You will never know what you’re capable of, until you give it your very best shot. Perseverance, persistence, patience and practice will see you improve, and over time, achieve what it is that you want in life. Ordinary people really do achieve extraordinary things!
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUT1ADtIHQU)

“Our imagination is the only limit
to what we can hope
to have in the future.”
(Charles Kettering, American inventor, engineer, and businessman)

Karon Graham