Embracing Normal

I’ve been out of the blog game for about a year, perhaps longer.  And in that year, well, some things have changed for me.  I’ve returned to work full-time, continuing a career doing work that’s meaningful and engaging, work that I truly love.  I’ve also become a divorcing mom.  (And that’s all I have to say about that.)  I’ve embraced a depth of friendship with some and released a dearth of friendship with others.  I’ve added meditation between my daily practices of yoga and prayer.  And I’ve worked quite hard at keeping my feet on solid ground in the midst of a chilling personal and professional life storm.

So suffice it to say that the past 12 months have been challenging.  And on the other side of the challenge is a concept that took a minute for me to get used to.  It’s called Normalcy.  And I like it!

I have to say that “Normal” is not one of those things I had aspired to in life.  Who does?!  Who wants their life to be normal?  Is that like Cosby kid normal?  Or Jay Jay Evans normal?  Or Little House on the Prairie normal?  Whose life ambition is to be Normal?  You know like ordinary?  Drama-free?  Sans hype??  Me for one, and anyone else who’s seen the eye of the storm a little too up close and personal.

You wake up in the morning and panic.  OMG — clearly there must be something to panic, stress, freak out or otherwise cry over.  Nope, there’s nothing. Life is normal.

You call your BFF, and she freaks out.  “What’s going on?  Are you okay? I’m hopping in the car.  Are the kids okay? Should I come over?”  Nope, just calling to say hi.  Life is Normal.  God forbid you call your sister to see how she’s doing.  “Do you need money?  Should I buy a plane ticket?  Do you want me to come get the kids?  I can open up a can, you know!”  Just calling to say hi.  Life is Normal.

At random moments, you find yourself misty eyed because things are so Normal.  And Normal implies tear-eyed things…like Deliverance…and maybe finally even a little taste of Peace…and the Hope that Joy will follow.

I grew up in a normal neighborhood with (what I thought was) a normal family with a normal upbringing in normal schools with normal friends.  It was a good life, a great beginning.  But somehow I aspired to a life, I don’t know, spicier than normal.  Anybody could be Normal, right?  But as it turns out, Normal takes work.  It takes effort to stay even-keeled when the world around you violently spins and spirals.  It takes tremendous effort to create an environment of Happiness, Peace and Joy.  It takes a mighty force to create a home where kids can thrive, hell, where you can thrive.  It takes courage to aspire to Normalcy.  And having regained a new sense of Normalcy, I vow to wake up each day and embrace Normal.

Happiness is the consequence of personal effort.  You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it.  You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your blessings.  And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it….  It’s easy enough to pray when you’re in distress but continuing to pray even when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul hold tight to its good attainment.

Eat, Pray, Love

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