When we hear the word “extraordinary,” we think of the remarkable, the exceptional, the amazing, the unbelievable—even the sensational. Michael Jordan was an extraordinary basketball player, embodying all these traits. Taylor Swift, regardless of your musical preferences, also qualifies as extraordinary, making her mark on the world stage. Abraham Lincoln made extraordinary efforts to unite a deeply divided country. Rosa Parks performed an extraordinary act of courage that transformed society. Mother Teresa spent a lifetime in extraordinary service to the downtrodden, the marginalized, and the impoverished. The list of extraordinary people and acts goes on, each one undeniably remarkable.

But most of us will live what we might consider “un-extraordinary” lives. Our names may not be etched into history alongside the likes of Lincoln, Parks, or Mother Teresa. As Gordon B. Hinckley wisely said, “The major work of the world is not done by geniuses. It is done by ordinary people with balance in their lives, who have learned to work in an extraordinary manner.” I’d like to propose a different take on extraordinariness.

Kindness is universally recognized—across countless studies and personal experiences—as something that is natural, essential, and vital to both individuals and society. There’s no need to cite endless research proving this truth, and no need to address opposing viewpoints, because they don’t legitimately exist. And yet, the world-changing power of kindness doesn’t stem from extraordinary people doing extraordinary things. It comes from ordinary individuals doing an extra amount of the ordinary.

Kindness, in its everyday form, often goes unnoticed because it feels so simple, so ordinary. It may even seem boring at times. But nothing could be further from the truth. Ice cream seems simple enough, but everyone wants an extra scoop.

History is filled with stories of simple gestures—extraordinary in their simplicity—that changed someone’s world. A smile when it’s needed most, a hug that brings comfort, a pat on the back that reminds someone they’re not alone—these are not grand, headline-grabbing acts. They are the ordinary actions that can have an extraordinary impact on someone’s life. If we pause for a moment and take stock of our own lives, we’ll find that it’s these small, seemingly insignificant gestures that made all the difference to us at critical moments. Your personal stories prove the point perfectly.

The world doesn’t need an army of extraordinary people to change it. It just needs ordinary people doing a little extra of the ordinary. A world of difference can be made by something as simple as an act of kindness—whether it changes one life or many, the impact is undeniable. Kindness, at its core, is extra-ordinary, and the world could always use a little more of it.