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Why be normal?
I find “normal” to be very overrated
What is normal? Why are so many people focused on being normal?
Recently a friend asked a question on Facebook, “What is normal?” Some responses were funny; “Definitely not me!”, “Overrated,” and “A setting on the washer and dryer.” While others pondered it; “Status quo,” “No such thing, alongside perfect,” and “Conforming to the beliefs of others.”
So many people try to be normal, yet what the heck does it really mean? It got me to look at the definition.
“Normal: adjective – conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.
noun – the usual, average, or typical state or condition.”
Both of those sound boring as hell to me. I have no interest in being usual or typical. I don’t want to do the expected. I think the same is true for what parents want for their children too. When someone is expecting a child do they hope for a standard, usual and typical one? God, I hope not. That is an unappealing, flat, static, blah-sounding experience to me.
If normal means what everyone else is doing and everyone else is miserable, unsatisfied and searching for something more, why would anyone want to be considered normal?
Certainly, there have been times when I wished I was just like everybody else. Times when I feared my uniqueness, and worried about seeming different to my peers. It takes some self-discovery and stretching of one’s comfort zone to truly feel good about your abnormality and to relish the unexpected. I can’t think of anyone who was usual or typical who made history, anyone normal who left an impact. I’m not even sure if anyone who is “normal” all the time even feels alive or can be happy.
What if “normal” is whatever you make it to be for yourself? Of course, then it isn’t really following the official definition. Or is it? Perhaps with a bit of personalization, you can make normal your own?
Normal: adjective – conforming to your own standard; typically you, or your expected unexpectedness.
noun – your personal usual, above average and beyond the typical state or condition.
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So many children and adults are afraid to be considered weird. Do you know what the original definition of weird is?
Weird wird/
adjective: weird; comparative adjective: weirder; superlative adjective: weirdest
suggesting something supernatural; uncanny.
“the weird crying of a seal”
synonyms: uncanny, eerie, unnatural, supernatural, otherworldly, mysterious, strange, unusual
That all sounds pretty cool to me. Certainly a lot more interesting than normal.
When I was a kid I had a saying, “Weird friends are the fun of life.” I still think it’s true. So if someone calls you or your children weird, say thank you. If they call you normal, that might be more offensive.
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Photo credit: Pixabay