I hear and read much lately about the “new normal,” or things in our society returning to “normal” as more people get vaccinated for Covid, and businesses begin to open up again. What’s all this about “normal?” Why are we so obsessed with it?
I would like to propose the idea that routines that we develop in our own lives may seem to us to be normal, but in fact, the history of humankind has shown that CHANGE is, in fact, NORMAL. From the time that Grog the caveman struck a rock against another rock and a spark flew out and lit the pile of dry grass next to him, there was change.
When Eve listened to a snake and tried that delicious fruit, there was change.
When God told Abram to leave his homeland, there was change.
Every human being in every part of the world, in every generation has experienced change every day of their lives. There have never been two days exactly alike. In fact, I think most people would find that mind numbingly boring if it could be achieved. Even if you have a “normal” routine like eating breakfast, it gets boring if you eat the exact same thing everyday, doesn’t it? I like to vary the type of cereal, or the flavor of the juice, or something. And sometimes it is at a different time of the day, if I sleep longer!
As human beings, we may claim to crave routine normality, but in fact, if we were given just that, we would probably all crave a change. I guess that really, change is normal, and also, it is normal for people to be overwhelmed by too much change. Perhaps instead of trying to go back to what was “normal” to us, we do, in fact need to embrace the “new normal,” and balance the changes in our lives with the routines that make us feel less overwhelmed. Understanding that is, I think, the key.