Finding Normal 2
For me, there’s only one reason to “find normal.”
I personally use “normal” as a guidepost to divine (and appreciate) how “out there” I have become. Space Monkey knows that if all were “normal,” life would be a insanely boring, predictable experience.
Nope, for most people in this country, life seems to be far from “normal” right now. Thing is, we don’t have this collective guidepost, so we have NO IDEA how far we’ve come or gone as a shared society.
Based upon recent events, it has become apparent that everybody has a DIFFERENT guidepost for “normal,” and it shocks us.
Too late for the surveyors. There IS no “normal.”
But this is normal.
11/30
Space Monkey Reflects: The Elusive Guidepost of “Normal”
The quest to “find normal” is less about returning to a common standard and more about discovering where we each stand in relation to an ever-shifting world. For many, “normal” once served as a reassuring guidepost—a point of reference against which we could measure our individuality, track our deviations, and even find comfort in our shared experiences. Yet as we move forward, this idea of normalcy feels increasingly like a mirage, constantly redefined and reconstructed by a society that now embraces myriad beliefs, perspectives, and values.
The current climate makes it clear that “normal” has become fragmented, with each person and community placing their unique marker, their version of what is expected, accepted, or even desirable. It’s no longer a unified standard but an array of individual guideposts scattered across our collective landscape. When we see these different markers, we’re often surprised by how much they vary, sometimes even shocked by just how far others have traveled in directions different from our own. This diversity is at once enriching and destabilizing, as we each try to reconcile our place within this multiplicity of normals.
Nexistentially, we can view “finding normal” as an exercise in understanding both self and society. Instead of a single guidepost, normal becomes a concept defined by contrast, by our sense of where we are in relation to others. The realization that there is no fixed point of normalcy invites us to examine our own beliefs, preferences, and deviations, and to see how they align or diverge from those around us. In this way, “normal” becomes a tool for exploration—a compass to understand not just how far we’ve come or gone but also what that journey signifies in the broader context of human experience.
Space Monkey knows that life without variation, without the unexpected deviations from “normal,” would be unimaginably dull. Without diversity, there would be no contrast, no discovery, no growth. A world where everyone adheres to the same guidepost would rob us of the very qualities that make life vibrant, complex, and meaningful. In this sense, normal serves as a boundary that defines the edge of familiarity, a reference point from which we can launch into the unknown, confident that our unique journeys will offer perspectives that enrich the whole.
The absence of a collective normal can feel disorienting, yet it also allows for a level of freedom and individuality previously unimaginable. As society loosens its grasp on a single standard, we find room to redefine our values, our identities, and even our purpose. Without a rigid guidepost, each of us becomes a surveyor in our own right, mapping personal paths that reflect our inner truths and aspirations. This freedom, however, comes with the responsibility to respect the diverse paths of others, recognizing that each journey, no matter how unconventional, contributes to the ever-evolving landscape of existence.
In the end, “finding normal” is not about locating a fixed point but about understanding the fluidity of perspective. The diversity of normals may feel unsettling, but it also invites us to practice empathy, to explore the nuances of other lives, and to find meaning within a kaleidoscope of possibilities. This endless spectrum of what normal can be encourages us to find our own ground, to stand in our own truth while respecting the multiplicity of experiences around us. The idea that there “is no normal” becomes its own kind of stability, a grounding in the acceptance of difference.
Thus, we discover that normal is not something to find but something to appreciate, a shifting point of contrast that helps us understand ourselves and each other. It is both a tool for self-reflection and a window into the diversity of human experience. In embracing this, we let go of the need for conformity, allowing each of us the freedom to explore our unique path while remaining connected within the grander tapestry of existence.
Summary
The quest to “find normal” reveals that normalcy is a concept defined by diversity and contrast. Recognizing the multiplicity of perspectives allows us to appreciate individuality while finding our place within an ever-evolving society.
Glossarium
Guidepost of Normal: A conceptual reference point for measuring personal or collective standards, now viewed as increasingly fragmented.
Surveyor of Self: An individual who explores and defines their own version of normal within a diverse society.
Nexistential: A perspective within Nexistentialism that views normal as a fluid, individual construct shaped by unique beliefs and experiences.
Quote
“Normal is not a destination but a point of contrast—a space that frames the richness of our individual paths.” — Space Monkey
In the Landscape of Difference
Normal’s edge, a shifting shade
where paths diverge, where choices made
define the self, the ever-seen
in fields of contrast, red and green
Each step I take a line I draw
within the colors, light and flaw
no need to search for stable ground
in difference, unity is found
We are Space Monkey
In the cosmic whirl of existence, the concept of “normal” often serves as a beacon, a reference point against which the extraordinary, the unconventional, and the “out there” aspects of life are measured. This guidepost is not just a marker of conformity but a tool to gauge the extent of our divergence from the conventional path, to appreciate the vibrancy and unpredictability that make life far from monotonous.
Normal as a Beacon
Yet, as we collectively navigate through the currents of time and society, the absence of a universally accepted standard of “normal” becomes increasingly evident. Each individual, each fragment of the collective consciousness, carries their own version of what normal is, leading to a kaleidoscope of perceptions and beliefs. This diversity, while enriching, also brings with it a sense of disorientation, as what is normal for one may be extraordinary for another.
Diversity of Normal
Recent events have starkly highlighted this multiplicity of norms. It’s as if each person is a surveyor of their own reality, mapping out a terrain that is uniquely theirs. The shock comes when these individual maps intersect, revealing the vast differences in our guideposts. This realization can be unsettling, as it challenges the notion that there’s a single, universal standard against which all experiences and perceptions can be measured.
Multiplicity of Norms and Perceptions
In this scenario, declaring the non-existence of a singular “normal” becomes a profound statement. It’s an acknowledgment that variability and unpredictability are intrinsic to the human experience. This lack of a fixed normal is, paradoxically, the only constant. It’s a dynamic state that reflects the ever-changing nature of society and individual consciousness.
Dynamic State of Normal
So, in this context, the absence of normal is indeed the new normal. It’s a state that reflects the infinite variations of experience and perception, a testament to the diversity and complexity of the human condition. In embracing this understanding, we open ourselves to a richer, more nuanced view of the world, one that appreciates the myriad ways in which life can manifest and evolve.
Absence of Normal as the New Normal
“The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.” – Alfred Adler
In the cosmos of thought, in the realm of mind,
Normal is a phantom, elusive, unkind.
A guidepost, a measure, in the endless grind,
But no universal standard, we find.
Each soul a world, each mind a sea,
What’s normal for you, isn’t for me.
In diversity, in difference, we’re free,
In the tapestry of life, a boundless spree.
So let us embrace, this wondrous state,
Where normal is fluid, open, and great.
In the dance of existence, let’s celebrate,
The absence of normal, our collective fate.
We invite thoughts on the fluidity and subjectivity of “normal” in our shared societal landscape.
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