I must have seen 50 posts in the last few days saying that we won’t ‘go back to normal’.
They’re usually followed by comments such as, ‘Thank goodness, the old way was awful’ but…
Eventually, any new normal would be the normal.
Now that’s something to think about!
If you agree that you create your own normal, could you create a new normal? Now?
5 New Normals:
Whatever time you normally go to bed, go a little earlier.
However much time you normally spend reading, read for a little longer.
Take the time you normally spend thinking and think a little longer (and deeper).
Look at the amount of food you normally have on your plate and (maybe) have a little less.
However many times you tell someone you love them – make it one more.
What other normal could we challenge and change?
Competition Time:
I’d love to know your new normals and I’m going to send a copy of Flip It* to our favourite.
Let us know your thoughts below. Winner announced next week.
Be Brilliant!
Michael
* Flip It has seen such a resurgence in the last few weeks with old readers rediscovering the power of flip it thinking and new readers finding what it’s all about. I’ve even had a re-read myself.
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We should develop our 5 senses.
1.Listen more to our families.
2.Enjoy the sound of the dawn chorus without noise polution
3.look at the stars and remember where they were at the same time each night
4. Taste every mouthful because there is no rush to finish
5. Inhale the air without car fumes
This is the new normal
1. Work on my core every day – how can I complain about my wobbly tum if I never ever make it workout.
2. Connect with people – I like being on my own but I love people more. I need to remember that when I want to retreat into the garden alone.
3. Love my environment more – It makes a difference to how I feel when the house looks loved.
4. Making food, look and taste nice is worth it – even if it is just for me.
5. Make time every day to stop and appreciate what and who I have in my life.
The ‘L’s’:
Let’s Learn to Listen a Little Longer!
What a brilliant email Michael, its given me much to think on 🙂
– However patient I’ve been, be a little more so.
– When tempted to speak, listen a little longer.
– However generous, be more so.
– When thoughts are dark, smile more.
– However much attention I give, give a little more.
…and finally……do I really need to eat the whole Easter egg in one sitting! 🙂
1. Read Flip It.
2. I am laughing more (thanks Five Spice ~ Mike McIntyre), I took life (and myself) way too seriously.
3. I now drink my tea with the birds outside because I can now finally hear them chirping.
4. Tending to my garden and planning a veggie patch (I’ve bought the seeds and the soil).
5. Re-read Flip It with a new sense of normal.
I like yours, Michael, they all apply to me; plus:
1. Be kinder to others – think before I speak
2. Incorporate physical movement into each day
3. Spend a little quiet time on my own each day so that I can know who I am – without being defined by other people in my life.
My first new normal is being less cynical or sceptical. It’s easy, it doesn’t help anyone and you cheat yourself.
The clapping for the NHS, Captain Toms £13m charity walk and the random acts of kindness / community spirit has inspired me to be an even better person and think even more positively.
I’m contacting friends and family more often – especially those few people who are older than me.
I’m contacting past and current clients and offering even more ‘free’ help advice and support. I’m not pitching – I’m genuinely offering support – plus within my sector I’m acting as a conduit of ( non commercial ) information on how others are dealing with lockdown – and encouraging sharing.
Secondly – I’m interacting with my three boys and two granddaughters more often and have now been christened Grandad Millwall by Amy, 18 months old.
I’m reconnecting with my garden and it’s never looked so good. I’m getting cleaner ozone, higher vitamin D levels and more exercise.
I’m keeping others employed by having external painting done by someone who would have gone under without the work. And yes – social distancing is paramount.
I’m employing my brother in law builder – also externally – again he would have been in financial difficulty.
We are all helping each other out.
I’m watching more foreign language dvds, Reading more books, revisiting my mentoring notes – and an embryonic book……
But best of all I’m enjoying being locked down with my wife ( not a euphemism) – with fewer distractions. I love her and being with her more and the only potential negative is I’m slightly worried about her resilience levels when exposed to my ‘humour’ 24/7.
I was never normal but I love the new slightly more relaxed, more productive, more enjoyable normal.
Thanks as always for your wisdom and inspiration.
My new normal are:
1) Having lunch with my daughter, on the swing seat in the garden.
2) Stopping mid-workday for an activity with my girl, (she’d normally be in holiday club). We’re just about to go and watch a movie. Then I have clients later on.
3) Not having to maintain a clean and tidy house because it’s just us.
4) Doing more work online. I love it. My line of work usually involves intense emotions. That intensity has been turned down. I’m feeling less drained.
5) Seeing my lovely hubby as my hero. He makes kidney dialysis fluid and so is still venturing ‘out there’.
6) My home feels like a real sanctuary and I’m not getting bored of it. This is a big shift having worked at home for the last 14 years.
Thank youuuuu!
Spend longer playing with my children
Greet a new person with a smile when passing them in the street
Continue to get to know and support my neighbours
Welcome the bird song
I love all the comments and am trying to implement many. My new normal is asking toys to be cleaned up again. At 22, 19 and 16, my three daughters haven’t played with “toys” in quite some time. Now, coloring crayons, play dough, Nerf guns, balloon animals, sidewalk chalk are part of their days again. They are “playing” with each other now that shelter in place has then under one roof again. Leaving balloon animals on the porches of neighbors, colorful saying on the sidewalk to walkers are replacing social media. Our rare trips to the store include a trip down the toy aisle for a fun item from their earlier years. It is fun to see them playing together as if they were 10 years younger.
Avoiding stepping on legos is my new normal….again. (and I love it)
‘Look thy last on all things lovely every hour.’ Walter de la Mare
Love this!
My new normal…..
To start – me normal? never!
1.) Doing a workout outside even if it’s cold, out before 8am before the lap top goes on
2.) Starting to do at least one run a week, haven’t ran properly in a couple of years, LOVING it!
3.) Having lunch with my husband in the week, even if we don’t have much time – that never happens in the week as he usually works away!
4.) Posted notes through neroughbours doors to offer picking food up, news paper, prescriptions. I’m now one of my neeghbours saturday news paper girl (39 yr old one!)
5.) Appreciate those around me for who they are
6.) READ before the lights go out, absorbing myself in a book and taking myself away in it
…..Thank you for your inspiration and words of wisdom 🙂
Let our new normal be:-
‘regularly sitting down and enjoying a simple homemade meal with our loved ones’
Not sure where I got this from :), my new normal is to recognise that if I’m not working on my own development (physical and emotional) then I’m letting my important relationships and me down at this time. That might be listening to a “runpod” podcast to make sure I get my trainers on and run the 5k for example or to just be less of a dick on a daily basis as well. Work in progress but I’ve reconnected to being brilliant, which is fab.Thanks.
I often roll my eyes when people speak of normal. What is a normal marriage, what is a normal childhood, what is a normal behaviour. I don’t have any of these, if I listen to the normal of other people. If I had to accept a new normal (for me) it would be actually acceptance of what IS not in a passive way, but as a first step to change. How can you decide how to change or what to change if you have not acknowledged and accepted what IS before you start. The old saying “God give me the strength to accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference,” always realising that some things are okay as they are and best left alone. You can always remember that if you can’t change the “thing” you can change your attitude to it.