Fantasy and paranormal novels tell tales of the extraordinary. The hero gains magical powers or obtains a gift others do not possess. The heroine embarks upon a life-or-death mission and finds her inner strength while on her quest. There is adventure, romance, and mystery. And, there is always an event that defines the main character, a discovery that changes everything, a moment that transforms the hero’s life. Ordinary becomes extraordinary.

Readers flock to fantasy and paranormal novels for escape, so it stands to reason they won’t want to read about the intricacies of laundry and grocery shopping; however, for the average person, mundane tasks take up most of their life. For the average person, life is made up of an endless stream of monotony—paying bills, working in an office, cleaning, cooking, sleeping, eating—punctuated by the extraordinary moments that remind us why life is so wonderful.

For some of us, the extraordinary moments are few and far between. We get caught up in mediocrity and forget what it’s like to experience patches of pure joy in an otherwise foggy life. We can’t find the clearing in the forest, the bright ray of sun shining through the thick barrier of trees towering above us. Not only are we lost, but we’ve forgotten we’re supposed to be looking for magic and adventure in the world we live. We become stagnant, resigned.

Sometimes it takes a vacation to wake us from our slumber. Sometimes it takes a life-altering event. Sometimes the moment of awakening comes from something so insignificant, it seems like nothing at all. We realize we’re unhappy. That we’ve had enough. That it doesn’t have to be this way. We can have an extraordinary life.

But, what about those who can’t afford to travel to places they’ve always dreamed of visiting? They can’t leave their jobs and families? Can’t buy the sports car of their desires? Can’t break free of the things that tie them down?

We can make tiny, but meaningful changes. We can embrace those things that do make us happy. We can appreciate the good things in our lives. We can redefine extraordinary.

What if extraordinary is within our reach? And, what if the thing holding us back is an adherence to a set of rules society has put in place for us? We don’t have to do things because they’ve always been done a certain way. We don’t have to live up to any expectations but our own. We don’t have to accept anything less than extraordinary.

So, here’s a challenge for you, dear readers: Step outside your comfort zone and try something new. Make a list of the things you love and find a way to incorporate more meaningful moments into your life. Think about what’s really important; cast away the things that bring you down and make room for the things that bring you peace and fulfillment. It is not impossible.

We can be the heroes and heroines in our own lives. We can set out upon a quest. We can write our own stories, and within those tales, discover something extraordinary. We can have an extraordinary life.