From Ordinary to Extraordinary: The Journey, One Awkward Step at a Time

Let’s face it—no one pops out of the womb with their life perfectly put together. (If you did, congrats on being the human equivalent of Beyoncé.) For most of us, our trajectory from “ordinary” to “extraordinary” is a little less Destiny’s Child-prepped and a little more awkward-choreography-while-trying-not-to-trip-in-heels. But that’s the magic of it, isn’t it? Growth, grit, and sometimes laughing through tears—all of it makes the journey worth it.

I’ll admit: my own path wasn’t exactly charted with a color-coded planner. At 15, sitting in my East Austin bedroom strumming a battered secondhand guitar, I never imagined I’d end up doing...this. Writing about relationships, teaching kids art, juggling nonprofit deadlines, and occasionally ranting about the Austin housing market at happy hour. It’s been a wild ride—but it’s taught me something invaluable: extraordinary lives don’t just happen. You grow them, one messy, motivated moment at a time.

Here’s how I went from a shy, DIY dreamer to someone who (mostly) knows which side of her own life is up—and some insights on how you can level up too.

Start Where You Are—Even If It’s Decidedly “Meh”

When I was 7, my world-changing aspirations included being a teaching princess or—or this is real—a fully self-employed macaroni artist. That didn’t quite pan out, but hey, we all start somewhere. And honestly, starting somewhere “meh” is underrated. You don’t need a perfect plan to begin; you just need the will to try.

In high school, I wasn’t voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” I was the girl writing angsty poetry in her Lisa Frank notebook and getting weirdly passionate about Model UN. That era was less about knowing who I was and more about figuring out what didn’t feel right.

But “meh” is fertile ground for experimentation. Those years taught me to listen closely to what lit me up and to be okay tossing things that didn’t. Interests come and go—like my ill-fated obsession with yodeling in seventh grade (don’t ask)—but every dead-end teaches you something. At 17, I may not have known my “purpose,” but I knew this: showing up matters. Not perfectly, not glamorously—just consistently.

Say Yes to the Unexpected, Even If It’s Weird

Fast-forward to college, where my life pivoted unexpectedly during an elective art class. I signed up because it sounded like an easy A (spoiler: it wasn’t), but as cheesy as it sounds, something clicked. There’s something magical about creating, whether you’re finger-painting or sculpting your way to a D-minus final project. It was the first time I’d seen how expression could connect people—and I was hooked.

Sometimes, extraordinary things look mundane at first glance. Saying “yes” to random opportunities (a friend’s art festival, a volunteer shift at a nonprofit) opened up doors I didn’t know I wanted to walk through. When I spent a semester abroad in Barcelona, teaching kids improv art games in Spanish I barely spoke, I discovered that the things you’re bad at can still transform you.

Takeaway: buckle up for detours. You never know if your next left turn is your thing, your home, or your heart.

No One Gets Somewhere Great Without Fumbling First

Can we talk about failure for a second? Because every “extraordinary” person you know failed at least 834 times before landing their victory lap. The TED Talk version of someone’s success story often skips over the part where they showed up to the wrong meeting or butchered a client presentation. But those are the juicy bits where all the learning happens.

Case in point: my first internship at a grassroots organization. My job was straightforward: manage logistics for an education event. Sounds simple—until you factor in a coffee spill on the keynote speaker’s slides and forgetting to order table linens for a banquet. (Pro tip: school gym floors do not pair well with fancy centerpieces.) I wanted to crawl into a hole and live there permanently. But years later, I’ll say this: those mistakes taught me more about preparation and humility than any success ever did.

You’re going to stumble on your way to extraordinary—it’s inevitable. But every misstep is part of your growth story. Own it, forgive yourself, and keep going.

Find Your People, Because You’re Gonna Need Backup

You know those moments in epic movies where the hero rallies their crew and you realize, “Wait, they’re not doing this alone”? Turns out, real life works the same way. You might be the protagonist of your story, but every extraordinary life has a supporting cast.

For me, my A-team is everything. My parents, who grounded big principles (justice! fairness!) in small, everyday kindnesses. My friends, who lovingly roast me when I get too self-serious or accidentally pronounce “charcuterie” as “shark-coochie.” And my mentors, who’ve pushed me to aim higher than I thought possible.

If you haven’t found your “crew” yet, don’t stress. Building your community takes time. But here’s one way to make it happen: start showing up as your real, unpolished self. Volunteer. Take that dance class, even if your moves look like drunk Elaine from Seinfeld. When you put yourself out there authentically, your people will find you.

Ordinary Moments Are the Secret to Extraordinary Lives

The whole “ordinary to extraordinary” thing gets romanticized like it’s one giant leap. Newsflash: it’s not. More often than not, extraordinary lives are built on painstaking layers of small, ordinary choices.

It’s the 5 a.m. wake-ups to chase a passion that scares you. It’s laughing harder than you thought possible at Sunday brunch with your ride-or-die crew. It’s deciding (again and again) to show up for what matters—even if that showing up looks like raw, messy imperfection.

For me, extraordinary isn’t some magazine-cover fantasy. It’s the fulfillment that comes from knowing I’m building something real: mentoring kids who remind me what wild creativity looks like, writing about relationships in a way that matters, loving imperfectly but wholeheartedly. It’s a life that doesn’t always Instagram well but feels damn good when I sit back and take it all in.

Next Stop: Your Version of Extraordinary

If you’ve ever felt like your life is stuck in “blah,” just know: you’re in good company. There’s no perfect moment to start chasing extraordinary—it’s right here, right now, tied up in the everyday choices you make. Forget about perfection, ignore the highlight reels on social media, and listen for that nudge in your gut telling you this life has more to offer.

Here’s my advice for your journey:

  • Show up, scared or not. Whether it’s asking for a chance or learning a new skill, courage grows with practice.
  • Get curious about your “meh” phase. Every in-between moment is teaching you something. Pay attention to what thrills, frustrates, or surprises you.
  • Embrace the awkward. Think of every cringey misstep as character-building. If nothing else, it’ll make for a hilarious story later.
  • Keep real people close. Friends, mentors, family—whoever holds you up through the rough spots—are your secret sauce. Cherish them.
  • Value the small stuff. Extraordinary isn’t about the “big wins”—it’s about how much heart you bring to the ordinary days.

You’re better equipped than you think to build something beautiful. Your path won’t look like mine or Beyoncé’s or even your neighbor’s—it’ll look like yours. And what could be more extraordinary than that?