The refrain “when things get back to normal” is right up there with the phrase “unprecedented times” as some of the most overused this year. And that first one is actually pretty problematic, Which is something you might think people would have figured out now that we’re seven months into this crisis, but since not, here are some reasons why.
- Some Things Have Also Changed For Good. For a lot of people, there is no normal to get back to. Between the permanent job losses and the loss of family members, it’s kind of rude to say things will get back to “normal” when so many people’s lives have been turned upside down.
- The New “Normal.” While it’s nice to believe we’re going to party like it’s 2019 soon, the reality is there are new protocols in place that aren’t going away soon. Things like temperature checks and lower-capacity restrictions in public places are likely sticking around. Oh and invest in a nice reusable mask because they might be a fashion staple at this point.
- Unhelpful Focus. Therapist Elisabeth LaMotte believes we shouldn’t be focusing on some magic return to “normal” because it’s simply not helpful to our mental state. We should be working on the things we can control like nurturing relationships, getting into exercise routines, and how to keep our productivity up if we’re still working. In other words, don’t expect 2021 to be any better. Instead, expect yourself to be better at dealing with all this in 2021.
Source:HuffPost