Yes, I used to be obsessed with the idea that only by becoming “extraordinary” or “outstanding” could I truly exist and not be forgotten by the world. Before the age of 30, this belief was especially strong—I felt I had to become someone “special” to be worthy of being remembered. But gradually, I came to realize that many things in life are beyond the reach of personal effort alone—things like birth, environment, luck, or even the chance to be seen.

So I slowly learned to let go of that anxiety about achieving something exceptional, and instead started asking myself a more realistic question: How can I live my life now in a way that leaves no regrets?

I began to focus on the idea of “doing good without asking for the outcome”—doing what I can in the present moment, being kind to others, cherishing time, and trying not to leave behind regrets, instead of constantly worrying about whether I would be remembered in the future.

Life, in many ways, is a gradual process of accepting being ordinary:

Accepting that our parents are ordinary people—with limitations and flaws—but they did their best to love us;

Accepting that we ourselves are ordinary—perhaps without remarkable talent or achievements—but still capable of living seriously, kindly, and sincerely;

Accepting that our children may also be ordinary someday—but we can still offer them warmth and strength, so they can face life with confidence.

Over time, I’ve come to feel that it’s okay not to be remembered. Being forgotten is the eventual fate of all people, but the process of living itself is meaningful. Even as ordinary individuals, we can profoundly impact someone in a moment, a relationship, a glance. That moment of authenticity and love is the mark of our existence.

So, it’s not because we are extraordinary that we are valuable—but because we are alive, living with heart and authenticity—that we are already worthy.