If you look at the dictionary interpretation of the word Normal, you will see that everything that describes it has been an idea at one time or another. God didn’t send the meaning of normal on a stone tablet, forever to be convention.

I have had occasion a few times to ponder on what constitutes “Normal”. I hope I am open minded enough to know that actually there is no normal in life. Normal is what we want it to be.  I get bristly when other people think that their normal should be my normal. I am under the impression that when others want us to conform to what they consider is normal, what they actually want is to feel safe or even smug in the knowledge that they are right and everything in their world is ok once again.

Normal becomes a habit or a routine or a certain type of behaviour. If we do it often enough it becomes normal to us – no matter what that is. Now I am not saying that what is pleasant for us or normal for us needs to necessarily change. We are who we are and if we are happy with this then ok. My back gets up when I am happily going about my business or I have a certain opinion/belief and someone comes along and tells me I am wrong. I will think about it and even question if I might be wrong, but if in my heart it feels right for me, then there is no way I am going to change.

In a broader perspective, things that people do not always understand can sometimes be labelled as wrong or peculiar or different.

For example:

The colour of skin,

Mental Illness,

Behavioural conditions such as ADHD, Aspergers, Autism, to name but a few.

Sexual orientation: Lesbianism, homosexual, Bi-sexual

Dwarfism

Physical handicap – Blind, deaf, and more……

I am sure there are more that I have not mentioned.

With love in my heart God grant me the humility to accept difference in everyone, because difference is normal for many.

We do need to have laws to keep the world safe against people who may harm us, but we can open our hearts to accept that people can be different from us and they are “normal” too.

I hope my article makes you think and re-evaluate what you feel is normal.

Much love.

Gillian.