218: What is Normal?

I’ve been waiting for quite some time to be able to write that I’ve had a normal week - no major incidents, no trauma.  

Readers will have noticed that this recently hasn’t been the case.

But then,  after reflecting on these last few weeks, I asked myself, “What is a normal week?” And I could only come to the conclusion that, for me, a normal week includes a major incident and /or a trauma.  

This puts a lot of other things into perspective. I have to learn to expect the unexpected;  to welcome incident,  and regard it as excitement rather than trauma.  

The alternative is to have a life like many of my park friends  - boring, samey, incident-free.

But this is rather like that phrase that business people often use when interviewed on TV.   A common saying is, “There are no problems, only opportunities. Lesser beings, when faced with a typical situation, yet remembering the advice given, can only think ,”Well I’ve got a very difficult opportunity. “

Changing the language doesn’t change the situation.  A complete change of attitudes is also required if one is to treat ‘problems’ as ‘opportunities’ or life’s major incidents as excitement and interest factors rather  than traumas.

Still, I will try.  You will know, in a few weeks, by my language and overall demeanour whether I have been successful.