Back to Normal

Last post asked the question "Where do we go from here? Last weeks comment was:

Big Question, no answer here.  Well it is time to start answering that question.  What will normal be like in 3-6 months?

For me it is a pretty normal Sunday.  It is a relatively normal weekend after a normal week.  There has been a fair bit of news space devoted to "normal".  Mostly news articles speculating on when covid will end and we as a nation will begin to live normally.  Those articles have been more prevalent since the release of the covid vaccine.  This is all started me thinking about normalcy and what it actually means.  During this time of isolation and quarantine we have all had time to contemplate our normal lives.  Many of us have have wondered if the old normal will ever return and if it does will we accept it.

One example is masks.  Will we continue to wear them.  I was fortunate to visit Japan in 2008 you did not have to wait very long before seeing a masked individual.  Will North America follow now that we have had several months of mask wearing.  Thinking about things do I have the right to expel my collection of airborne germs on those around me?

Using the ever powerful google I was surprised that using the word "normal" to describe a human condition only appears for the first time in the 1840's.  Prior to this the word normal had mathematical uses.  Normal was followed by the use of the word normality then normalcy (https://lithub.com/how-exactly-did-we-come-up-with-what-counts-as-normal/).  Being normal is so fundamental to individuals in our society.  So ingrained, that many teenagers have suffered countless physical maladies for not being "normal".  I am sure many adults have as well.

What really interests me is not the use or misuse of the word "normal".  Or where it comes from.  I will accept the "normal" understanding of the word.  The Webster's definition:

 conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern : characterized by that which is considered usual, typical, or routine

Using this definition today is a normal Sunday for me.  I attended an adult Sunday School class (via zoom.).  Next came church service.  I confess I skipped church services.  I went to my workshop and continued a project I have been working on.  Then grabbed lunch, started laundry, turned on football (Championship weekend, Bucs and Packers in the NFC Championship game).  All very typical, all very average for me.  Pretty much a regular pattern.  Tom Brady has thrown a couple pics,  not normal.  I guess there needs to be a few surprises.

No what intrigues me is the fact that we have the opportunity to craft a new normal.  A new routine, an average that is better than average   (Wow another pic thrown by Brady, very not normal).  I am not naïve enough to think that some of the norms of society will not affect my routines.  But day to day we have a lot input into our routines.  What would my normal be?  Some thoughts as we move forward and out of this pandemic:

1.)   I would like to work gratitude into my routine.

2.)  Time for peace and reflection

3.)  Forget what normal should be

4.)  More fresh air.

5.)  More creativity

6.)  Bucs win Brady in the super bowl as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Maybe my new norm will have a few more wins for my NY Giants.  I won't hold my breath.

I guess I could start now.




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