Editors Note: I grew up always thinking that ordinary was just plain boring and something that i should avoid at all costs.  Which also means, I grew up attracting massive amounts of DRAMA in to my life, and thought that was normal!  It wasn’t until I did some major self-evaluation work that I realized I could live a life where things were calm and peacefull and that didn’t mean it had to be boring.  Whether you are through with the drama, or want a fresh outlook on your ordinary life, read below and see what you can add in your life to embrace the ordinary! ~Nitika~

I tend to get caught up in the routine of my life. My work routine, exercise routine, talking to my family frequently, socializing with my friends at nights and on the weekends; just the general day-to-day. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life (why else would I be a contributor to the ‘love in life’ section?), but sometimes I need to stop and realize that the ordinariness of my life, is actually, amazingness.

Anything can happen at any moment. We read in the news about catastrophes that happen, sudden deaths, a missing person and I always think of the moments, seconds, days right before a life is changed instantly. I think of the woman out on a morning jog after a major storm last summer and a tree limb fell down and killed her instantly. A friend was getting ready to be married and have the wedding of her dreams until she came home early from work one night and found her fiancee with another woman. Another friend who was just walking to work, received a call from her mother telling her that her father suddenly suffered a stroke. Before these occurrences, their lives were just an “ordinary life.” Were they living it to the fullest? And after, I wonder if they (or their friends and family) wished they had appreciated the ordinary more. Anything can happen at any moment, and we have no control over instant change, heartache, or even disaster.

This is not meant to scare you, make you sad, or have you constantly looking over your shoulder, waiting for the worst. Not at all! I talk of these things because on a day-to-day basis, I think we rarely realize how fantastic our ordinary lives are. Living in a country with so many luxuries, I know I take for granted that I have good health, a stable income, good friends and a wonderful family, and an advanced degree. I take for granted even the smallest things, like owning a phone, a toothbrush, or even toilet paper.

After I hear of a life-changing event, I always have feelings of compassion and empathy for the person/persons, but also gratitude. However after awhile, those feelings subside and I am back to my ordinary life. I’m taking a stance to stop that! It is necessary to be grateful for the regularity of our lives every single day. Do your best now to appreciate what you have, no matter how big or small. So if the phone does ring late at night with some world-altering news, or we find a mysterious health problem one morning, or who knows what else, we will know not only did we have gratitude for the ordinary, but that we can handle situations and develop a new ordinary, that we can appreciate.

Here are a few things that I do now to honor my everyday life:

1. Keep a Gratitude List. Every  night, I write down a few things that I am grateful for. They could be as silly as “my new pink nail polish”, important like “my mom”, or deeper like “when people apologize.”

2. Stay in the now. It’s helpful to keep a rubber-band on my wrist and whenever I find myself dwelling on unpleasant past experiences, or worrying about the future I’d snap! And I’m back in the now, enjoying the moment.

3. Keep in touch. Call your grandmother. Email the friend you’ve been meaning to email for months. Remember birthdays. Be a reliable friend. Return phone calls. This not only enriches your life, but it leaves no room for regret.

4. Live it up! Don’t wait around to take that art class, wear that new outfit, or tell someone you have feelings for them. Celebrate the ordinary now! It is fantastic, and so are you.

Allow yourself to embrace the Ordinary Awesomeness of your day!

** This article was written by guest contributor Bevin Reilly, for her bio and contact information please visit http://yourbellalife.com/guest-contributors/