Are you special?
I don’t know whether you think you’re special, but I think I am special. Don’t get me wrong—I don’t mean special to others. I mean special to myself.
What does that even mean?
Let’s break it down. There are two schools of thought about being special.
The first urges that you are not special because, in the grand scheme of things, you’re just one of billions of people alive today, and eventually, you’ll be one of billions more who have lived and died, leaving little to no trace. Your life, your problems, your thoughts, your work—none of it will matter in the vastness of time and space.
And you know what? This is hard to argue with. In fact, this realization can be incredibly freeing. It gives you the courage to try anything you want, take risks, and chase dreams without fear of failure. Why? Because no matter what you do, the universe isn’t keeping score. In 100 years, no one will likely remember you.
But does this mean you’re not special at all?
No!
You’re not special to others, not in the vast, external world. And that’s okay.
But here’s where the second school of thought comes in:
You are special—to yourself.
What does that mean?
It means that while you may not matter to the universe, you matter deeply to yourself. You are the only one who experiences your life. You are the sole architect of your decisions, the singular observer of your emotions, and the ultimate narrator of your story.
Your perspective, your feelings, your choices—they’re entirely yours. No one else can ever fully understand them, let alone live them. This makes you profoundly unique, at least to yourself.
This kind of specialness isn’t about ego. It’s about recognizing that your life holds meaning because you have the power to give it meaning.
You are the sole decision-maker in your life. While others may influence or guide you, you ultimately decide what path to take. This autonomy makes you special.
You are the one who defines your worth. Your value doesn’t come from others’ validation but from your own acknowledgment of your uniqueness and individuality.
You are the creator of your own meaning. While the universe may not care about you, you have the ability to care about yourself and create a life that feels meaningful to you.
Why Does This Matter?
Understanding that you are special to yourself but not to the universe gives you the freedom to live authentically. You no longer need to chase approval from others because your self-worth doesn’t depend on it. It also gives you the courage to take risks and pursue your true desires,
knowing that the only person you need to satisfy is you.
Most importantly, it provides resilience. When you face challenges, this inner sense of specialness reminds you to care for yourself, prioritize your well-being, and persist.
These ideas may sound trivial to some, but it is very interesting to observe that many people in my home country, Turkey, think that they are not special at all but also make decisions by asking the same question: “What do others say/think of me?”
What is more surprising is that even old people take their actions based on fear, fear of what others might think of them. Isn’t that surprising? There are only a few years left in this world for them, and they still live life for others, not for themselves.
Do you think you are special? Please share it in the comments below.
Cheers,
Sidika
This article was enhanced by #ChatGPT and #Grammarly.
I used to think like Zeynep, believing that success meant making a significant impact on other people’s lives. But over time, I realized that I’m already building something beautiful—a meaningful world for myself and my family. I’ve discovered that creating my own meaning, like striving to be a kind person, is just as valuable. It’s a reminder that if everyone takes care of their own space the whole world will naturally become a better place.
I think that no matter how you live, if you don't have a life that is important to the universe, then I, as the person living that life and making those choices, have no importance or specialness, even to myself. Because the end result is unimportant. If we are gonna multiply the result with zero, do the calculations inside the bracket matter?