Are you average, or great?

[1wokeuplikethis]

I’ve always wanted to be great at things, but have come to the realisation that I’m not actually very amazing at anything. But can do lots of things at a basic level.

Average weight/height/size
Average salary/job
Average house
Average cars
Average fitness
Average cook

I am so average at so many things and even when I take up new things, I never really excel at anything. I’d love to be GREAT at something.

Things that I’m quite good at: driving, making friends, my sport, reading, planning stuff (house admin), booking holidays.

But I’ve never solved a cold case, ran a marathon, got promoted. Heck, I struggle to keep a plant alive.

I just wonder what it might feel like to be amazing at something. Like a great singer. Or have an amazing garden. Or be a surgeon. Or have great general knowledge.

Is anyone else distinctly average, or if not, what are you great at and how does that feel?

Im not very good at cleaning, or interior design, or sticking to a diet either…

I think the vast majority of people are distinctly average.

You can be average and still be an awesome person. You don't have to be great at things, just be great at living your life.

I level out at average - by being shit at some stuff, and great at one or two! Am by general agreement NOT a good cook, and a genuinely terrible gardener. I'm artistic enough that I sell what I paint, which is really satisfying. My most treasured compliments are the personal ones though - my kids say I give great hugs, and my late husband said I was amazing at wallpapering 😂

I am distinctly average at most things I think.

Where I excel - I am a bloody good creative writer, I've won awards and I am hoping to be able to take the plunge and transition to doing this full time as a second career in the next three years.

I am also a bloody good daughter, there is nothing I won't do for my parents.

Great isn't measured in what you can do, or have achieved, it's measured in how you make people feel. Anyone can be awesome at that.

I'm distinctly average. In it's favour I'm sure it's much less hard work than being amazing.

Great at some things, not very good at others. Salary/cars/house don’t mean anything about what you’re like as a person.

This is all very true.

I did find myself thinking, given the choice would I like to be an incredible scientist, but the pay off is have no friends.

I have lots of friends and I love them, so I would rather be a non-scientist with lots of friends.

I also really like my hair - if I could be a great cook but have shit hair, i would like to remain average.

I quite like being Mrs Average. There are some things I am better at than some people I know, equally I am utterly dreadful at other things.

I trained as a hairdresser, God knows how I qualified because I was absolute crap - I should have trained as a baker because my baking skills are fire 🔥

Why wouldn’t a scientist have any friends??

Average is obviously the default....or it wouldn't be average!

Im well below average height....and thus weight
I probably earn average wages but well below mumsnet average! 😉

Im good at baking
Im great at faffing
I have run marathons but its not that useful!

I’m pretty average at most things. Not an amazing cook, I look pretty average, I’m in an averagely paid job, I have an average amount of kids but I do also think I’m great! Well some of the time. I think I’m great at my job, my colleagues are great and so are my kids. My husband is ok too. The cat is certainly great. So all in all I think average can be great.

I often feel the same. I’ve achieved a lot in life, that I’m proud of, and I’m sure you have too, but I’m not on the front of “Time” magazine haha 🤣

I’ve learnt recently to be happy with what I have in the present, and continue working on the future, as long as you hold your head high that’s all that matters.

Picture for fun; but your post reminded me of it.

I'm below average in most respects.

Looking at your list, you have absolutely won life's lottery. Try not to be discontented!

Me, DH and DD are all totally average. Though I am less than average height-wide as am a pipsqueak.

MN doesn’t really do average though, especially with husbands (giant, eat 3 roast chickens a day), sons (ditto) and children in general (9 A*s and multiple sports etc).

Not average here, I am bigly orange more than anyone.

Above average weight
below average height

I'm a very good cook (it's my job)
Taller than average
Average dress size
Earn a lot, lot less than average.

I'm never going to change the world or be remembered for amazing things and I'm happy with that.

Pffft…. I’m great at being ME.

no one else is me

I’m enjoying these responses and it has given me a boost - that it’s ok (& normal) to be average. Thank you!

I’ve recently had a significant birthday, so maybe just assessing myself. Probably a bit harshly - I am GREAT at self trash-talk!

I'm good at:

Organising stuff

Cooking
Parenting
Writing

Bad at:

Interior design
Job interviews
Learning languages

I could have written this post. I have been thinking recently that I’d like to be great at just one thing.

I used to think I was pretty good at certain things but have recently come to the realisation that I am mostly average with being slightly above average at a couple of things.

I'm average at most things, great at playing my musical instrument. There are a very niche group of people across the country who know who I am, and who would probably be star struck to meet me.

But to the vast majority of people it means nothing, and it will never have a positive impact on my life outside of actually performing.

Average is fab.

Through work I’ve met more than my fair share of unusually talented people, and they’re quite often rigid, emotionally unstable, and nearly impossible to collaborate with.

It makes me so happy to meet someone who’s an all-rounder - who can have an easy chat about things most of us can relate to, and doesn’t fixate obsessively on things (which is more or less a prerequisite for becoming an expert - but can also potentially make you a crashing bore, or a stalker 😬).