I don’t like new normals that are imposed on me. I would much rather a new normal that I have created. Like, “Hey guys, tomorrow we’re going on a road trip”. Everything is in my control. Costs are within budget, timings are relatively in my control, routes etc. Then I’ve made contingency plans for any eventuality. I suppose then that’s not a very new normal. It’s something you ease into sometimes at your pace.
But life is not like that. Many people’s lives are characterized by crazy curve balls. A health challenge here, business deal gone bad there, a long relationship suddenly seems to hang in the balance, death of a loved one. Change is inevitable. We’re used to hearing it but no matter how many times we hear it, or even say it to people going through it, it doesn’t get easier to deal with when it’s our turn. Suddenly today is unrecognizable compared with yesterday.
Covid-19, a word that 15 months ago was almost completely unknown is probably one of the most discussed topics of last year and will continue to be. Actually it’s a whole family of words; pandemic, social distancing, quarantine, lockdown, vaccine. I’m sure you can think of many others.
A new normal that is characterized by uncertainty, loss of control is a lot harder to deal with. If tomorrow you won a lottery and suddenly you get new hobbies, new toys, new travel patterns (well, assuming, pandemic protocols), new wardrobe, new zip code etc. This is an easier new normal to get used to.
As I was thinking about this post, it occurred to me that this could easily be the last post I ever write! Like kidogo you hear for the next two weeks your friends discussing,
“You haven’t heard about Danzo?…”
Ok to be honest this freaked me out a bit. But you know what? The last year and a bit has taught all of us that it can happen. We’re living in interesting, unprecedented times.
So this is why you’re seeing a new post after more than two or three years. All this time I’ve had a post in my head. Complete with the title. “Caleb” I called it. But my procrastination challenge has not improved. If anything, I think it’s getting worse. There was a time, maybe five years ago that I actually sat down and wrote a very significant portion of that post but to this day I have no idea what happened to the draft and I completely lost it. And with it any desire I had left to ever continue with this blog. You never know, “Caleb” could still happen. It could be the next post I publish.
So maybe at this point you’ve been wondering when the wisdom will begin pouring out after such a good introduction. You’ll be disappointed. Get used to it. Let it be your new normal. Sometimes this blog will frustrate you. You’ll come here hungry and expecting a buffet only to find one crisp, a pringle, garnished with a small inedible plastic leaf.
Tuendelee kuongea…
I can explain it... here are my 5 good excuses 