In her book "Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith," Anne Lamott reflects on the common human experience of feeling ordinary and the accompanying sorrow. She emphasizes how much of our lives are occupied with the internal struggle of wanting to improve ourselves or at least mask our shortcomings. This desire to enhance our self-image leads to a constant evaluation of how we present ourselves to others.

Lamott captures the essence of this struggle by noting that many of us engage in a mental calculation, finding ways to disguise our defects and failures. This notion of improvement, whether through charm or intimidation, illustrates the complexities of human nature and the lengths we go to seek acceptance and validation in our lives.