Hey Reader,

This newsletter starts with these two details:

1. I missed another PTO meeting last night.
2. Last week, after a conversation with a friend about her general business ennui, she told me “You are so good at what you do. I hope you realize this.”

(I promise I’ll weave the two threads together.)

When I sat down to write this, I wanted to talk about being exceptional.

And how, if you're reading this, you are an exceptional human who wants to do exceptional work in this world. The tension comes in when I then have to tell you that living a remarkable life hardly ever feels remarkable.

Usually it feels just like a normal day. Emails, drop-offs, figuring out what’s for dinner (yet again!).

But there are moments. Glimmers. Things that make you pause and think: oh wow I’m so glad I’m here.

Anyway. I have two main points to make:

1. You can’t be exceptional at everything.
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   Siiiiiigh. I know. I wish it was different too!!! But it’s not.
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   Here’s why: being exceptional is just that: an exception. A rare event.
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   The other reason: you only have 24 hours in a day. And your capacity is even more limited than your time. Not because you’re deficient, but say it with me because you’re HUMAN.
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   Which means: you can either decide rightnowtoday what you’re fine not being exceptional at, or you can burn yourself out trying to be THE ABSOLUTE BEST at everything, in which case, you won’t be able to keep going and you’ll actually be the best at, well, nothing.
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2. You’re bad at embracing what actually makes you brilliant and exceptional.
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   ​Sorry to say it, but someone has to: you aren’t good at seeing your innate magic.​
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   And the innate part is why. Because it’s in you, in your cells, in your bones. It’s just you being you.
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Which brings us back to those opening points.

• I missed another PTO meeting last night. Because, um, I don’t go to PTO meetings.
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  Even though I technically joined at the beginning of the year. Even though community is important to me.
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  I just can’t commit to another thing right now. But beyond that, when I zoom out, I can see that “joining the PTO” is yet another item on my How to Be An Exceptional Parent checklist.
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  But the truth about being an exceptional parent? It starts with me being my most true self. Which sounds like a cliché but we actually know it’s one of the most rewarding (and challenging!) paths to live!)
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• That thing my friend said to me: “You are so good at what you do. I hope you realize this.”
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  Oh wait what. You mean the things I do and say and the value I offer and the ideas that show up to me aren’t just standard, average run of the mill things?
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  ​Likewise: Oh wait what. You mean the things that you do and say and the value you offer and the ideas that show up to you aren’t just standard, average running of the mill things?

Soooo here are your takeaways:
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1. Aiming for being exceptional at everything is just perfectionism in an Athleta hoodie.
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2. Your extraordinary, remarkable life is going to be made up of ordinary days. Find your glimmers.
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3. Your brilliance feels mundane to you because you’re living inside it. And this is where I remind you the world needs your brilliance. (Just as I remind myself that the world also needs my brilliance.)

So let's keep going, shall we? Together, onward.