What If I'm Happy Not Being a Star?

I'm not perfect.  There are many things about me that don't fit our society's idea of "excellent."  They don't even fit my own idea of "excellent."

I'm not thin.  I'm not beautiful.  I can sing, but I'm not and never have been good enough to make a career of it.  When I was young, I thought I had to be a star, but I outgrew that attitude.

I love my husband, but we don't have a fairy tale marriage, and there have always been things we didn't have in common.  I love my kids and my grandkids, but I've always needed time for myself.  I feel drained by too much socializing, and enjoy spending time alone, so I don't often go out.

I plan to eat healthy, and do it a lot of the time, but I also like pizza and Mexican food and cookies, and I eat them too.  I'm a minimalist, but I also appreciate a certain level of comfort, and wouldn't be happy giving up everything.

I'm committed to my faith, but I also have doubts and ways in which I fail to live according to it.

I write because I enjoy it, but I haven't written a best-seller and don't expect to.  My blog has thousands of subscribers, but not tens of thousands, and few people know my name.

What if I'm not going to have a huge impact on the world?  What if I don't want to compete or push for more?  What would happen if I accepted my limitations?

Is it okay to be happy with less?

I know this isn't what we're encouraged or expected to do.  We're supposed to hustle, strive, go for more and bigger.  No one is supposed to be satisfied with less.  We're told, "You're special.  Talented.  Beautiful, no matter what they say.  If you work hard and put your mind to it, you can do anything."

Well... no.  That's not always true, and certainly it's impossible for everyone to be "the best."  But when you're taught that, and believe it, you start to blame yourself if you don't accomplish what you set out to do.  You're aiming for perfection, and if you don't get it, you feel cheated or unworthy.  You can't see the progress you made by your efforts.  You can't see the meaningful experience you gained.  You only see a failed outcome.

Well, I'm not going to praise you or puff you up.  I simply hope to encourage you.

You see, it's possible that a good life looks a bit different from what we've been led to believe.  You might just be a spouse, parent, sibling, or friend, but the people closest to you know that you care about them, accept them, and root for them.

You might not be a wealthy industry leader, but you do your work faithfully and with integrity.  You might not speak before thousands or become a household name, but there are people who know you for what you can do, whatever that is.  For example, I can write for you, sing for my church, and read aloud to my grandchildren.

You might not be a model or movie star beautiful, but that lets you focus on something besides your body and what you put on it.  You can be happy with a smaller, sustainable wardrobe, fewer beauty products, and low-maintenance hair.

You might make a budget and a meal plan, and then break your own rules.  You might be mostly clutter-free, but still have a hot spot or two where things collect.  Your home isn't Instagram-perfect, but it's warm and safe and comfortable.

You might not be cut out for the frantic pace of our society, but that makes you more likely to be patient, sensitive, and aware of little details.

You might not start an international aid society, but you do send checks to one, and give a bag of groceries to the local food pantry.  You might not win the Nobel Peace Prize, but you do learn your neighbor's name, greet them when you see them, and send over a casserole or a restaurant gift card when you hear they've been in the hospital.

You're not holy, but you're also not holier-than-thou.  You long for grace, love, hope, and forgiveness, so you're conscious of offering them to others.

This will have to be enough.  This isn't laziness, uselessness, or "settling."  Trying to keep up with everyone else can cause you to miss what's right for you.  And the constant pursuit of more will leave you unable to enjoy what you've already got.

Why shouldn't we be happy?  There are people with far less than we have who are happy.  Who says they don't deserve happiness?

What if I accept that mine is a run-of-the-mill life?  I'm not a star; I'm just a person, like you.  Maybe all I want is a small, simple life.  A "good enough" life.  Maybe it's not remarkable, but it can still be beautiful.

Available now for pre-order... the newest addition to the Minimalist Basics series:  A Simpler Christmas: Celebrate a Holiday with More Joy and Less Fuss.*

This is not my old holiday book.  It's a new volume full of practical strategies to help you focus on what you value about this season, letting you design a minimalist holiday that celebrates what's most important.  Going for the "the best holiday ever" can leave you feeling burned-out by Christmas Day.  In fact, it can leave you tired, stressed, dissatisfied, in debt, and fatter.  So why not ease off for the sake of more joy?  When you trim down a bit and emphasize what you love, you're sure to find the happiness and inspiration you're longing for.

Pre-order the e-book at a reduced price, or wait for the release of the paperback and hardcover versions TOMORROW.  Thank you for supporting my work!

* You'll notice this blog has NO ADS.  That's because it's supported by readers like you.  If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission.