What is normalcy? Again – according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (EDITOR NOTE: Auto Correct tried to respell it to Merrimack again – I’ve since correct the error in my recent post on “invest”) normal means “conforming to a type, standard or regular pattern” or “according according with, constituting, or not deviating from a norm, rule or principal.” When it comes to people – normal means “of, relating to or characterized by average intelligence or development” and “free from mental illness, mentally sound.”
A state of normalcy, at least in my opinion, never remains constant. I’ve hear the phrase – “A New Normal” quite a bit lately. When it comes to the drastic changes that people have had to make in their lives in the past 5-6 months in this world, is this new normal going to be acceptable by the masses of people. The simple answer to that is no. There are those of us who refuse to accept the new normal, and I am perfectly fine with that. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t abide by it for a short while if it means a temporary discomfort – or even if it may help save a life.
Are we going to abide by what is mandated or recommended to us by our leaders? Or is it that we must follow the orders dictated to us by our leaders? I see a difference in the way people are interpreting the messages being sent over the media and the laws and rules written – Unfortunately it’s a matter of perspective. We’re divided in society on what we see as normal. That’s bound to happen in our society – race, age, gender, culture – whatever the case may be.
I’d like to think about how different leadership, and a different perspective on our news sources and media would have handled the current pandemic and revolution. I’ll table that for speculation later.
Moving on – normalcy. Are we ever going to be back in the state or act of being normal, at least to the way what normal was just a year ago? No. Do not deceive yourself otherwise. Normal changes everyday, and even normal yesteryear is different than the normal 40 years ago (which by the way is 1980 and we are marking the anniversary of “The Empire Strikes Back, ” but I digress. We can try, wish and hope things would return to normal, and some things may seem that way in time, but it will be the new normal, not the old normal.
Is it good for our mental health to grow and adapt? Will it mentally break us to find a balance to hold true to our beliefs and embrace the new normal? Are we physically, financially and mentally fit to adapt to the sudden change of normal. I do not believe a lot of us are. Do we adapt or die? Give it time and let a cooler head prevail.
Think about how the Industrial Revolution and the Technological Revolution and what it did for the way we live and work. The Civil Rights Revolution – in my opinion that has been ongoing since the 1960’s is now demanding even greater change after some blatant injustices fueled a firestorm. I’ve seen the cracks crumbling for years and some are trying to take advantage in these times to make their normal the new normal.
I don’t think this new normal will last long – many of us are fed up with it already. The question is – are we focusing on the right things now? I doubt it.