Do We Really Want to Return to the “Normal” of Before?
What exactly is normal anyway?
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Image via Unsplash.
This is a surreal new world we’re living in. Life right now is an endless episode of today, tomorrow never seeming to come. Whilst some of us daydream about returning to our “normal” lives, the rest of society is realising normal may not have been such a good thing for a lot of people. Not only are we still coming to grips with the Coronavirus pandemic (which is ongoing), but another pandemic is taking place - the fight to end systemic racism. For many this moment in history is a wake up call, a turning point in time that cannot be reversed. Feeling uneasy and unsettled is going to be part of our “new normal” for the foreseeable future.
Like anyone in their 20’s I enjoy trips to the cinema, browsing the rails at my favourite vintage stores, and sitting in a cafe in the midst of London’s chaos munching on avocado toast like a true millennial. But back in March (what seems like forever ago now) the world shifted. COVID-19 took over, causing utter devastation and a continued loss of life worldwide. Travel bans were brought into place, countries were placed on indefinite lockdown, cities plunged into a state of national emergency, and social distancing rules were put into full force. Due to the nature of the virus, we became powerless almost instantly. The world as we knew it disappeared overnight.
Millions of people across the globe have lost their jobs, been furloughed, or made redundant. Minority groups, women, and young people have been hit the hardest. The crisis has enlarged the gap between the rich and poor, the old and young, left-wing and right-wing. Questions have arisen such as; who was financially stable enough to sit this one out? Who has secure employment or a redundancy package? Who has a decent home to isolate in? Who has loved ones surrounding them right now? For the majority, the answers are bleak. The odds have never been in their favour, the normality they’re used to living not worth returning too.
Being confined to our homes has shifted us towards a slower pace of life. Rushing to work on an overcrowded train was never ideal, and many who are now working remotely have found they prefer it. Employers discovered they can manage remote teams effectively whilst reducing their overhead expenses, so for some it looks like this way of working is here to stay. We’re used to hustling 24/7, always being on-the-go. Our self-worth has become dependent on how much we accomplish, something we’ve normalised over the years. The pandemic has shown us there’s more to life than work, in case you needed reminding. It’ll never be “business as usual” again.
Cartoon by Farley Katz for The New Yorker.
Our past selves may be shocked at us as we cook from scratch, tackle DIY projects, and get back into old hobbies we’d long forgotten existed. We’re now engaging in more mindful consumption (watching the pennies may have something to do with this), and focusing on sustainable and essential purchases. I'm hopeful these changes will continue once this is all over. Here are some things I hope won’t go back to the normal of before though; archaic ideas about what it means to be productive, a lack of emphasis on the significance of rest, a shortage of valuable time with loved ones, and neglecting our physical/mental health.
I can’t help but briefly discuss Black Lives Matter in this edition of J’Nae Writes. As I said earlier, “normal” life was horrific for millions of people, and we’re at last addressing societal wrongs after centuries of oppression and silencing. The recent injustices that have occurred against black lives are inexcusable, but sadly a reality. We know that Coronavirus disproportionately affects black and ethnic minorities, just another truth that has to be dealt with in these marginalised communities. For black people, things shouldn’t return to normal. When we think of resetting much of society after the current crisis, I’m hopeful that we think about correcting systemic racism during the pandemic and beyond.
Why think of our former lives as normal and this as something else? We need to ask ourselves when we emerge from this, what needs to change? What has this taught us? Living in a state of constant confusion and worry has become the norm for me, as I’m sure it has for many of you. I’m beginning to question a lot of things. I’m mentally drained, and emotionally exhausted. Life is very different to what it was a few months ago, but maybe change is just what we needed. Ask yourself this: what does your version of normal look like, and is it worth returning too? Building a better, more equal world for all requires us to think outside the box, it requires us to imagine the unimaginable. Returning to “normal” is old news. And whilst much needed change may take time, I’m in it for the long haul. Are you?
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Twitter to see more of what I’m up to, and I’ll see you same time same place next week!
Catch you soon,
J’Nae
WHAT I’VE BEEN READING:
- A great article by one of my favourite writers, Roxane Gay, on travelling around the world as a plus-size woman and the possibilities of what can happen when you let go of feelings surrounding body shame.
WHAT I’VE BEEN WATCHING:
- Earlier in the year Netflix released numerous Japanese animation films by one of my favourite animation houses, Studio Ghibli. Some of my favourites currently available on Netflix are; Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, When Marnie Was There, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki’s Delivery Service. There’s something about Studio Ghibli’s style of animation that makes me feel incredibly relaxed and at ease.
WHAT I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO:
- ChilledCow on Youtube have some great music you can play in the background whilst your working, studying, or doing household chores and life admin! Great alternative to playing the radio as it isn’t distracting.
WHAT’S CAUGHT MY EYE:
- Victorian Senior Care, a group of assisted living homes with 14 locations in North Carolina, started an Instagram account to find pen pals for their lonely residents who haven’t been able to have visitors during the pandemic. I ordered some cool vintage postcards from this Etsy shop - can’t wait to write/mail them once they arrive!
ON MY BLOG:
- One of the few ways I’ve been able to relax during lockdown is by creating a routine and focusing on my skincare; taking the time to invest in ourselves is something we should all be doing a lot more of. ‘My Favourite Sheet Masks’ is a blog post I created detailing my favourite sheet masks, FYI they’re affordable too.