Making the Ordinary Extraordinary
Life rarely hands us joy. The art is in making it ourselves
So often, people wrestle with the question: How do I make my life something to be excited about? The truth is, excitement doesn’t arrive on its own. It isn’t a gift handed to us by circumstance or other people. Excitement and happiness are things we create.
I’ve always believed that if you can do something you love, in an environment you love, that’s a win‑win. You’ll never find a job where you love everyone you work with, but you can find work that lights you up and a place where you feel at home. That’s the foundation.
But even beyond work, joy is built through the choices we make every day. Years ago, a cousin gave me a revelation that changed how I see happiness. After a breakup, I told him I missed my ex. He asked me what I missed, and when I listed the things, he said: “It’s not him you miss—it’s the experiences. And experiences can be replicated without him.” That was a heavy revelation. It taught me that what we long for isn’t people, it’s the moments, the feelings, the experiences. And those can be recreated, reimagined, and reclaimed.
For me, joy has come in unexpected ways. I’ve dipped into my credit card to buy fragrances I hadn’t worn in years, and to bring new furniture into my home. Yes, I have a plan and the resources to pay that card off, but walking into my home now brings me peace. Starting the day with a fragrance I love is a small ritual that makes me smile and brings joy to my day. My home is no longer just a pit stop between work shifts it’s a sanctuary, a place I want to be.
Excitement doesn’t have to be flashy or fabulous. It can be as simple as shaping your surroundings to bring you joy, or choosing rituals that bring you peace. The question isn’t whether life is exciting on its own—it rarely is. The question is: What will you do to create excitement, joy, and meaning in your life?
And here’s the deeper truth: at this stage of life, many of us probably have more sand in the bottom of the hourglass than we do in the top. None of us knows exactly how much time we have left. So why not use what remains to chase what sets your soul on fire? Why not live with urgency, with intention, with joy?
Excitement isn’t found—it’s made. And the making of it is the very art of living.