A New life
Returning to normal, the moment the world is waiting for. Can we ever do that?
I wondered how many will be traumatized, as the fear of contamination turns us vigilant about hygiene, distant from others, and nervous in crowded public places. How many families will be ruined or grow closer as couples who only saw each other part-time while working overtime finally got together all the time? How many children finally got to play with their parents on a daily basis? How many people, living paycheck to paycheck without savings will make it on the other side? I wondered what our society will look like a month, a year, or ten years down the road.
What have we learned about ourselves, about each other, and from this experience?
It took a lockdown for me to realize that what we considered normal is anything but normal. In the uninterrupted moments of luxuriating with my dog, I saw the “normal” busyness of my life as detrimental to my dreams and creativity. New ideas and inspiration flow out of space in time. I wondered how many others took full advantage of this opportunity.
Do we really want to go back to normal as we knew it?
Normally, polluted air hung over our cities. Normally, we had all but forgotten about daily family dinners. Normally, we had no time to relax, no time to eat breakfast, not enough outside time, not enough playtime. Normally, we’d complain about everything. Normally, we didn’t save for a rainy day. Normally, we mostly texted and disconnected. Normally, we didn’t help each other. Normally, we took for granted the very people who now keep us going, safe, and fed. Normally, we wasted resources on things we didn’t need. Normally, we staid complacent.
Is it possible to incorporate more honest and personal conversations, more caring for each other, more quality time together into our re-opening? Is it possible to normalize gratitude for the little things instead of fighting over them? Can we balance work life with playtime? Can we be more frugal and less frivolous? Can we drive less and walk more? Could we stress less and enjoy more? Want less, and give more? Argue less, and dance more?
We have an opportunity to redefine normal.
Will we take it?
Will YOU take it?
Valentina Petrova has been helping people with life, health, relationships, financial, career, professional, and business challenges since 2015. She has a Master’s in Psychology and is a certified Life Coach. You can reach her at val@valentinapetrovaconsulting.com (805)909-1401, and watch her at http://www.youtube.com/c/ValentinaPetrova