A myth was an event which, in some sense, had happened once, but also which happened all the time.*
Jean Houston

Think of the whole universe of matter and how small your share. Think about the expanse of time and how brief – almost momentary – the part marked for you. Think of the working of fate and how infinitesimal your role.**
Marcus Aurelius

The myth we forge for ourselves is not
the telling of some achievement in our past, rather,
For myths to do what myths do best –
the exploration of life-in-all-its-fullness for the sake of others –
They must serve us each day in an unfolding way;
For this it must contain scale –
An honest understanding of who we are and what we can do –
And an embracing of our imperfection –
We are limited, but that is part of the challenge and
the adventure –
We can’t do everything, but
this provides us with focus for our
energy, resulting in mastery and
satisfaction and fulfilment.

If all people were perfect, then every individual would be replaceable by anyone else. From the very imperfection of people follows the indispensability and inexchangeability of each individual; for each is imperfect in their own fashion. No one is universally gifted; but the bias of the individual makes for their uniqueness.^

*Jean Houston’s A Mythic Life;
**Ryan Holiday’s The Daily Stoic;
^Viktor Frankl’s The Doctor and the Soul; I have altered the gender to be more inclusive – words in italics).