The Quiet Power That Changes Everything

"I've found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love."

Gandalf the Grey, The Hobbit (Film)

J.R.R. Tolkien, a favorite author of mine, writes human tales of adventure, materialism’s risks, growth, friendship, and the ordinary’s power. Though the above quote never appeared in the book itself, it beautifully encapsulates one of its key themes: the glorification of the ordinary.

Modern society, however, glorifies the extraordinary. We are drawn to stories of remarkable success, dramatic transformations, and grand achievements. While such moments deserve recognition, our obsession with them often blinds us to the quiet, consistent actions that truly shape our lives.

We remember milestones. Our first car, a wedding day, a major promotion. These moments are rare. Life is not built on dramatic achievements alone. It is shaped by the humble, everyday choices we make. Gentle acts of kindness, steady habits, and moments of presence accumulate into something far greater.

The Myth of the Big Moment

Society celebrates heroic feats, grand successes, and dramatic transformations. The idea of the big moment is reinforced by media and culture, making it seem as though life’s defining moments happen in an instant. We see overnight success stories, viral sensations, and breakthrough achievements without the years of effort that preceded them. What is often overlooked are the humble, unremarkable actions that lead to these milestones.

A friend, once obese, returned transformed after months away. I trained with him, seeing daily discipline, not shortcuts, reshape him. Fit and confident, he proved his change came from persistence, not pills or surgery.

The same principle applies to creative success. Prolific writers are not made in a single burst of inspiration but through years of writing, revising, and refining their craft. Relationships are not built on grand romantic gestures alone but through daily acts of care and presence. Even the strongest friendships and marriages are sustained by quiet moments: listening, checking in, and sharing space together.

The idea that life is made up of extraordinary moments is an illusion. True success, deep relationships, and personal growth emerge from a commitment to meaningful actions over time.

Finding Meaning in the Ordinary

Flu-bound, I sought comfort films, craving ordinary solace in fog and fatigue. During the tail end of my sickness, I finally watched Perfect Days (2023), a film several creative friends had recommended.

The film follows Hirayama, a man whose life is simple and repetitive. He wakes up, drinks the same coffee, listens to cassette tapes on his commute, cleans public toilets, eats lunch in the park, and spends his evenings reading essays and poetry. His days are predictable, his routine ordinary. Yet within this simplicity, he finds joy. Through his contentment, he becomes a quiet force of light in the lives of others.

There is a scene where he shares a moment listening to music in a car with a stranger. Another scene shows him playing shadow tag with a cancer patient. These fleeting interactions, though modest, create a lasting impact. His story is fictional, but the truth it reflects is real. The ordinary, when done with intention and care, has the power to transform lives.

Why, then, do we glorify the spectacular? Why are we obsessed with wealth, perfection, and instant success? I am no different. I spent many years of my youth chasing grandeur and spectacular successes. Hirayama’s quiet life reveals what our screens obscure.

The Ordinary vs. The Illusion of Grandeur

Social media amplifies the extraordinary, making humble efforts seem insignificant. The highlight reel of curated success stories distorts our perception of reality. We see luxury, like a TikTok star’s sudden fame, but years of practice lie beneath.

Many chase instant success, overlooking the process and struggle that precedes it. The truth is that meaningful lives are not built in a single moment but brick by brick, through unseen effort.

Happiness is often found in quiet moments: a morning walk, a meal shared with family, a handwritten note to a friend. Viktor Frankl, in Man’s Search for Meaning, described how even in the darkest conditions of a concentration camp, gentle acts of kindness gave life purpose. A piece of bread shared, a word of encouragement, a moment of laughter. The smallest gestures carried lasting significance.

How Small Acts Shape the World

A kind word can change someone's day and influence their future actions. A teacher’s encouragement can shape a student’s life in ways that may never be fully known. A steady habit of generosity can inspire an entire community.

History shows how modest acts create big change. Rosa Parks quietly defied, sparking a movement. Scientists steadily advanced revolutions. Mother Teresa gently cared, growing a mission. Each started almost insignificantly. Such humble steps echo through time.

Change does not always come through grand revolutions. Often, it comes through the persistence of everyday goodness.

Living the Philosophy of the Ordinary

To embrace the power of the ordinary, we must shift our focus from seeking grand success to finding joy in the present moment. Gentle acts of kindness, steady habits of discipline, and a commitment to presence matter more than we realize.

I’ve learned this from neighbors. Brief chats quietly knit our community. The world is not changed by kings and warriors alone but by everyday people choosing goodness in the smallest moments. If we truly understood this power, we would treat every action as significant, every choice as meaningful, and every person as capable of making a difference.

We can find joy in life’s simple moments: a peaceful morning walk, a favorite beverage enjoyed in solitude, a meal shared with family or friends, a handwritten note to someone we care about.

A word of encouragement to a lonely stranger can have far-reaching effects. That modest gesture might inspire them to choose a brighter path or pass along that kindness to others.

"Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."

Mother Teresa

The Story of an Ordinary Hero

In December 1938, Nicholas Winton, a 29-year-old stockbroker, abandoned a ski trip to help a friend in Prague organize aid for Jewish families fleeing Nazi persecution. Seeing their desperation, he devised a plan to save children by securing homes and permits in Britain. From a hotel room, he worked tirelessly, creating lists, raising funds, and navigating bureaucracy.

Between March and August 1939, Winton arranged eight trains that carried 669 children from Prague to safety. A ninth train, set for September 1 with 250 more, was halted when Germany invaded Poland, and most of those children perished. For nearly 50 years, he kept his efforts secret until 1988, when his wife found a scrapbook documenting the rescue. On the BBC’s That’s Life!, he met many of the now-grown children he had saved, a humbling recognition of his quiet heroism.

Later knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, Winton died in 2015 at 106, leaving a legacy of ordinary compassion that changed history. His story shows how determined acts can ripple outward, saving lives without fanfare.

The Choice to Be Good

This power isn’t just for history. It’s ours to wield. If we believe only great leaders change the world, we excuse ourselves from responsibility. We have power. A teacher might spark a scientist. A parent’s nightly stories might inspire a reader. A stranger’s kindness might save a day.

We all have opportunities to choose goodness. Some choices are bold, like defending the vulnerable. Others are subtle, like patience in frustration. The world shifts not only through loud revolutions but when enough people choose gentle acts of courage, kindness, and integrity every day.

Rejecting the Illusion of the Insignificant

It is easy to dismiss modest actions as meaningless. Why act when cruelty and suffering persist? These doubts deceive us. No great change happens overnight. The most meaningful transformations in history were built on the efforts of many people working in quiet, unseen ways. Every great movement began with a single step, taken by an ordinary person who chose not to ignore the moment in front of them.

We must resist the temptation to believe our efforts are insignificant. They are the building blocks of the world we create.

Cultivating an Ordinary Life of Meaning

To live a meaningful life, we do not need to seek grand success or widespread recognition. We only need to be intentional with the time and choices we are given.

• Practice kindness, even when no one is watching. The smallest gestures can leave lasting impressions. A kind word can stay with someone for years.

• Commit to honesty and integrity. Speak the truth, even when it is inconvenient. Do what is right, even when no one will praise you for it.

• Be present in the lives of others. Show up for people. Listen when they speak. Offer support without expecting anything in return.

• Appreciate life’s quiet joys. I savor morning coffee, hearing rain, feeling its worth.

• Take responsibility for your influence. Every action has an effect, even if we never see the result. Choose wisely.

The Legacy of the Ordinary

The greatest legacy is not always found in history books. It is found in the stories people tell about us after we are gone. It is in the way we made others feel, the gentle kindnesses we offered, and the example we set through our daily lives.

No one will remember every achievement or accolade. They will remember how we treated them. They will recall whether we chose kindness over cruelty, patience over frustration, and generosity over selfishness.

This builds gradually. Greatness is not a moment but a habit. The tiniest deeds, done with love and integrity, are the quiet forces that shape the world. I see it now. Writing this, I’m weaving my own quiet legacy. So can you. Start today. Offer a kind word, listen fully, savor a simple joy. These humble acts ripple outward, proving we don’t need grand moments to be significant. We already are.