Even
if the concept, the new normal,
weren't all over the place, we would be like, "oh, yeah, that's what I've
been living these past (fill in the blank). What I've come to understand is
that as we age, these new normals have become pretty common occurrences. As
part of the Sandwich Generation, we are all experiencing illness, loss, growth,
transition, well just plain change in our lives. Whether it be for the better kind
of change or not so much, a new normal begins to take root.
When my daughter left for eight months in
Australia six months ago, ready as we were for this amazing adventure for her, nothing prepares you for a new normal
thrust upon you like that. When the holidays rolled around, the new normal
became watching Christmas movies via Skype during my evenings her next day
mornings. Although we don't want a repeat this Christmas, that new normal
became memories we both admit were really nice and we will always remember.
What I find is that when we don't fight the changes, when we accept the bad and
eventually embrace the good changes, the new normals can effortlessly and
seamlessly flow in & out of our lives. No amount of happiness or sadness is
forever and the new normals will come and go, rinse & repeat. Rinse with
tears at times, repeat with the love and support of those around us. We are all
there for each other; that is the important
constant among all the change.
