The unimportance of importance

A recent philosophical article takes a view that I would have thought is obvious to those of most religious faith, but it probably bears repeating:

It is widely thought that we have good reason to try to be important. Being important or doing significant things is supposed to add value to our lives. In particular, it is supposed to make our lives exceptionally meaningful. This essay develops an alternative view. After exploring what importance is and how it might relate to meaning in life, a series of cases are presented to validate the perspective that being important adds no meaning to our lives. The meaningful life does need valuable projects, activities, and relationships. But no added meaning is secured by those projects, activities, and relationships being especially significant. The extraordinary life has no more meaning than the ordinary life.

That's the abstract.  The whole thing is here.

(Also, it reminds me of the Warren Zevon life advice "enjoy every sandwich", which I think of often, especially while eating.)