The Exceptional Average

Why each of us is capable of exceptionalism, despite the fact most of us are average

I’ve always sought to be average. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always strived to blend in and not stand out. I’ve always strived to be average. 

This may be due to fact that I was (from 8yrs old) always different. One of the only handful of black boys within a 300 mile radius,  having had the privilege of being sent to elite private boarding schools in the UK. Standing out like a sore thumb was the norm for me. I hated it. All I longed for was to belong; to blend in; to be average.

But in such an environment being average meant being ok academically (else a dummy), ok at sports (else a wimp), and still relatively sociable (else a geek). Hence I was pretty decent at all three, and had to be, though none came naturally to me; save for sports, perhaps.

This is the background to my general admiration of average’ people that become successes or in some way exceed (their own) …