Many of us are understandably devoted to the search for superiority. I’m not here talking about social superiority – though that psychological perversion is at times sadly evident  – rather about the search for what we believe to be the best in life. Clearly the latitude of the subject admits to vast definition. What however I’ve discovered in my researches is the often misguided belief that it is the chandelier above one’s head not the floor upon which one treads that marks the defining quality; that is, that glitter trumps basics. This is an unfortunate error.

The blunder is to confuse ordinariness with inferiority. Further it is an odd paradox that superiority regularly diminishes the very quality sought; the preoccupation with what is conceived to be superior confounds the goal. It is equally critical to appreciate that it is not the object of the ambition that is mistaken but the reason for the ambition. Nor is it as quaint as suggesting that one just wanted to enjoy fishing alongside a remote country stream instead of playing polo. In short it’s how we get there not where we’re going that matters. A recognizable example is that of a gold digger, a man intent upon enlarging his putative success by doing whatever it takes. Make no mistake, the offence is not the method or indeed even the purpose; rather it is the oversight.  The blunt truth is that most of the world consists not of kingdoms of gold. Most of the universe – even when shrouded in gold – is by definition commonplace or what the French identify as passable.

Once again it is the gloss we attribute to the underlying theme which magnifies the worth of what we attain. As trite as this may resound it is an achievement of far greater value than the words disclose. Herein lies the real superiority to life; viz,, the comprehension of life’s mediocrity or more accurately, life’s indifference.

In order to make a difference we cannot rely upon life to do so; rather it is our duty to bestow upon life the much desired character of superiority. For starters this means distancing oneself from the glitter above and keeping an eye on where we’re headed. This normally means having to confront those with whom we’re associated. And people, like children, tend to be exceptionally commonplace; that is, ordinary and unremarkable. To pretend otherwise is to invalidate the elements. How would you like to be treated as other than normal?

It is the application of this simple thesis of mediocrity which preserves us from contaminating the result. If by chance you’re having to deal with someone whose nose is well in the air, there is no value competing with the deceit. It is possible that sustaining the grounded option will not work because there are regrettably those who insist upon playing ball on their own terms. Yet to achieve the goal of superiority it behooves one to stay the course; namely, avoid the glitter and cling to basics. When you’re dead and buried there is little strength in dying beneath a pot of gold. And if you chose to get there by denying the basics of life, you will have missed both points.