We often use words like “beautiful” or “stunning” or “perfect” when we actually mean “popular” or “pleasant.”
Every day is beautiful in its own way. But the weather yesterday was pleasant.
Hit songs are hits. But they’re rarely perfect.
I’m a big fan of pleasant. And I often like things that are popular. Pleasant and popular are convenient, easy and riskless.
The extraordinary, on the other hand, is often difficult. It can create change, challenge our perceptions and feel risky, all at once. Creating things that are beautiful is a choice and a quest, and most of the time, we’re simply seeking pleasant on our way to being popular.
If we care enough to make it beautiful, we shouldn’t be willing to settle for pleasant.
