What Is Normal?

​A dear friend lost her mom last week. In talking about it, she suggested that with her losing her mom, who has always been an important part of her life, and with me in the middle of a radical work life shift, we are both adjusting to new normals.

I told her that's life to me. Always adjusting. Because every day is a new normal. If there even is such a thing as normal.

I mean, what the heck is normal anyways?

What is a normal day?

Who is a normal person?

What exactly is a normal life experience?

It seems to me normal is what makes us feel most comfortable. It's the parts of life we find most consistent and predictable. It's the people and situations that we prefer.

But all of that - comfort, consistency, predictability, and preferences - it's all fleeting. Whatever feels normal - it normally doesn't stick around long.

Certainly not forever.

So to me, adjusting to a new normal isn't just a part of life - it IS life.

It's acknowledging that every day is going to be a surprise of some sort - every day WILL require some form of shifting - and the healthiest kind of life embraces a mindset committed to finding a way to navigate the shift and not be derailed by it.

It's true; today I am adjusting to a new normal.

And I will again tomorrow.

Getting good at the adjusting - that's the secret.