I think it has become a cliché that people always emphasize “quality over quantity.” The phrase means that it’s better to produce fewer things that are well made, thoughtful, or meaningful than to produce a large number of things that are rushed, careless, or superficial. But is this really a universal rule?

Human life is not composed only of high-quality moments. Much of our growth and identity comes from the accumulation of ordinary experiences—conversations, repeated efforts, mistakes, and the lessons we learn from them.

It’s not bad for a person to try to accept their mistakes or even a life they feel is low in quality. That can actually be a healthy and necessary process. Acceptance allows us to live with regret, limitations, or suffering without being overwhelmed by them. But it becomes a problem when that acceptance turns into complacency, self-deception, or giving up on growth.

Every day when I wake up, I face a series of repetitive tasks—washing the dishes, making food, writing papers, running code, exercising. Sometimes I wonder: why do we keep doing these same things? Is it just for some goal? I don’t think life is boring, but when you stop and look at all the repetition, the question comes up.

Maybe repetition isn’t a flaw—it’s part of life’s structure. These daily cycles ground us. Through repetition, we build habits and shape who we are. The body gets stronger through repeated movement. Ideas take shape by writing again and again. Even love grows through small, repeated actions. Life isn’t only about big achievements—it’s also about learning how to feel okay with ordinary things and being present in the process.

It’s always difficult to turn a moment of disappointment into one of insight just by thinking about a goal. And for many people, that goal is limited to money or power. But a goal can be something else—like being happy with what you have, while slowly and wisely expanding your circle of influence.

Sometimes when I clean the kitchen, I stop halfway and feel overwhelmed—there are so many dirty dishes that thinking about them all makes it worse. But that’s the key: don’t think about the dirty dishes—just wash them. Accept that they’re there, and stay engaged in washing. That’s how we keep going.