In Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey he so eloquently writes about the word unbelievable. “Unbelievable, what a foolish word. A rude and disrespectful word. We think we use it to flatter and give credit to: what an unbelievable play, what an unbelievable film. What an unbelievable act of courage. What an unbelievable sunset.
“Why would we define things that are incredible and awesome, things that actually make us believe in them more, with this pillar of autonomy? Something spectacular, phenomenal, outstanding and most excellent, is more definitely not, unbelievable.”
Awe-inspiring, magnificent, prodigious and extraordinary? Yes. It just happened, you just witnessed it, you did it, believe it. Unbelievable? Quite the opposite. Give incredible more credit.
Acknowledge the existence of greatness and phenoms, excellence and extraordinaries, pleasure and pains. Recognize them as true entities, both beautiful and horrible, tragic and heaven-sent. Be not naive to awe-inspiring feats of good or good fortune, nor gullible to mankind’s capacity for evil. Be not blind to the credence of natural beauties and disasters. Nothing God or Mother Nature does is unbelievable, and if there’s one thing you can depend on people being, it is people.
Don’t act so surprised, unbelievable happens all the time, sometimes it’s divine, and sometimes it’s a loogie in our face. Don’t deny it. Depend on it, expect it. Believe it.”
I love his thoughts on this issue. What a thought provoking read. How much more extraordinary would our lives be if we sought out, looked for, accepted and expected extraordinary interactions and outcomes? Today, may I encourage you to seek out the beautiful things that life has to offer us? To celebrate the incredible acts that we humans do every single day. Extraordinary is right out your door, if you care to see it.
