2021 THE YEAR OF CHANGE! (The New Normal?)

The other day I was having a conversation with a friend and we both agreed that we didn’t like the term “The New Normal”.

At first, I embraced the term as did many others in our time of need. But as time has passed, I have come to discover that the negative aspects of the term can and should not be ignored.

If living in fear of all human contact is simply considered “The New Normal”, I can not accept nor embrace the term.

I mentioned to my friend that while I accepted the elbow bump, fist bump, shoe tap, and bow at the start of the pandemic, they were slowly beginning to lose their appeal. I also mentioned this to another friend and for some reason, our conversation descended into an all-out-gloves-off verbal brawl about, in her opinion, how my comments were “insensitive”. No matter how much I emphasized that I was not engaging in any high-risk activity, she was adamant that I don’t even entertain thoughts about what was considered normal human interaction not so long ago. Mind you this entire fiasco was started by me simply stating that I missed greeting my friends with a hug. Before the ” new normal” this would have been at most a conversation about the touchy-feely and the not so touchy-feely. Alas, this is the new normal.

It feels like simply expressing the desire for physical contact has become tantamount to willfully putting our entire society at risk. As soon as one expresses an inkling to return to just a semblance of what was considered “normal human behavior” there is an immediate backlash. “Think about those that have suffered!”, one is instantly reminded. “Social distancing and wearing save lives!”, I am told. Mind you I have not disputed any of those facts but simply expressing the desire to share a drink with a friend has become tantamount to killing grandma. This might sound like an exaggeration to some but I would challenge you to take a closer look at some of the “stop the spread” ads. In my most humble opinion “The New Normal” is rapidly becoming a term that polarizes instead of bringing us together.

In 2021 we are going to have to come together more than ever!

The challenges we face this year are great! The opportunities are greater!

Let’s strive to make the new “The New Normal” more than just a safety issue.

Let’s make “The New Normal” about how much we can accomplish if we strive not to accept hate and fear a normal part of society not about how important it is to socially distance ourselves from one anohter. There’s nothing social about it.

I’m not advocating irresponsible behavior, be safe, and be heart smart!