What is Normal?
“The Trouble with Normal is it Always gets Worse.” (Bruce Cockburn lyrics)
First I must remember that normal is nothing more than merely a story in my head. It is not real. It is another fiction that we choose to believe in or value or not. I can’t put it in my pocket and take it home or study it or eat it. It exists only in my head as a concept or a story or an illusion... a fiction.
The thing that we have to watch out for is how our own thinking constructs and reconstructs the story of normal in our heads. Part of this story often is “the grass is greener on the other side.”
If only...
If only we could get back to normal.
I’m so tired of social distancing.
I don’t like self isolation.
Entertain me!
I’m lonely!
I’m bored!
If only...
If only...
These are all stories we tell ourselves. And none of them have any basis in reality. They are our own pet fictions, a micro-narrative that we have chosen to live by.
Here's a couple of conversations I had today as I was responding to the 100+ happy birthdays from around the world from the past couple of days and to our present global pandemic.
Happy birthday, Ron. I appreciate your social media conversations and thought-starters. Especially in this difficult time craving non-business-related engagement. I often find your advice and insights useful. How will you celebrate given the current restrictions? (Thanks Bruce)
My response: I've often said that sickness is the western man's meditation while sick in a hospital bed or at home. It stops us dead in our tracks so that we can think and observe and reflect and choose what life will be. How will I define my life going forward. I guess this pandemic isn't much different for me than being sick except I can feel good and take walks, as long as I follow the rules so I don’t get sick. I've come to really enjoy alone, agenda-free time. I haven't been bored or lonely for years, so why start now???
