Don’t Just Return to Normal

“I’m just ready to get back to normal.”

These are the words that we have all said over and over again to anyone that will listen.  Many of us have been living in a state of isolation and social distancing during this time of Covid 19. We are over it. We are sick of looking at the same walls and the same T.V. shows. I’m right there with you and I’ve uttered the same statement.

This past Sunday, I logged in to watch church services online and the pastor’s words struck a chord with me. He posed the question “Why is everyone in such in a rush to return to normal?” What does normal mean? I looked the word up on Merriam-Webster and Thesaurus.com:

Whether you are religious, spiritual or not, I believe each of us has a purpose for the type of life we wish to live. The affinity for greatness within us yearns to do more than typical. Most of us have contemplated how we can be a better person or be happier than we were yesterday.

As we see the places that we used to frequent begin to open their doors, we will venture out into the world to move about without restrictions. The first thing I will do is spend more careful and thoughtful time with those people that I’ve been separated from while continuing to stay safe.

More than that though, I challenge you to think of this as the optimum opportunity to go out and re-discover the small treasures of life that we took for granted. Acknowledge the beauty in the ability to sit down in a coffee shop with your computer and watch the world pass by with more wonder for humanity and how precious it is. Savor the saltiness and sweetness of the foods that chefs prepare for us in restaurants. Show appreciation and gratitude for healthcare workers that have toiled through the pandemic and continued to care for the sick. I give thanks to those of you that have continued to supply us with food, grocery, and package deliveries. If you are one of these souls, I thank you will all my heart.

What we shouldn’t do is return to “normal” and go back to leading ordinary and average lives when we were put here on earth to share our gifts and do things that will create amazing memories. Instead, the thing to say is “I am looking forward to getting out of the house to go and do something extraordinary.

Identify some behaviors that represent the opposite of what you used to do pre-pandemic and put them into action. These things can be big or small just as long as they fulfill a personal goal.

If you can’t think of any extraordinary behaviors, here are a few ideas (some of which are on my personal list):

1. Donate some time to charity.
2. Try a type of cuisine that you have never eaten before.
3. Talk to a financial advisor and learn to save and make your money grow.
4. Connect with someone you admire and ask them to become your mentor.
5. Spend more time with people rooting for you and less time with the negative people in your life.

What are some other ways that you can refine your life and be more extraordinary? Leave a comment below or contact us on the socials, we would love to hear from you.

Written by Jay