There has been a lot of talk about a phase this society is going through as a “new normal”. This NN has been reflective upon the opening up after a fifteen month plus hibernation period that many folks have gone through thanks to the rise and fall(ing) of the Pandemic.
Of course, a new normal isn’t anything new. In fact, shifting from a “normal” to a “new” and not necessarily approved version of the “old” normal holds different means from one another.
Case in point. A few years ago, this nation went though a period of economic decline. This period was called “The Great Recession” since previous recessions–a moment of time where the economic state of the nation was not doing too well-came and eventually went, leaving within its aftermath, a state where people who were affected, such as to the point where their living spaces were in fate through loss of income and the loss of home ownership thanks to subprime mortgages that banks were issuing out through the early years of the 21st century.
In 2013, we placed an article that speaks upon a “new normal” that was forming. The article’s heading was of course, called The New Normal. Eventually, things did get back to normal, and that lasted up until the start of the third decade of the 21st century.
Here is that article as we presented it in Vol. 18-No. 20…
This seems to be one of the so-called “buzz phrases” that’s been kicking around within the last few years. According to the Oxford Dictionary, this term means “a previously unfamiliar or atypical situation that has become standard, usual, or expected.”
This phrase came from the rise of “The Great Recession” where everything from spending habits, general employment, and anything else that took a hard beating didn’t necessary recover even through the so-called economic “recession” supposedly ended a few years back! What is general refers to is the fact that what was once standard isn’t anymore, and what changed will be that way for quite a while, if not for good!
For example, being frugal with one’s money is now a “new normal” than just a temporary state of being. According to a recent poll conducted by The Gallup Organization, nearly three fourths (73%) stated that they are either spending the same amount of money or just spending less. 31% of those spending less is their “new normal” method of handling their cash flow. This states that those penny pinching folks will keep this method up for good rather than just for the moment.
There are a lot of reasons outside to economic concerns about keeping a new normal as part of a way of life. This also means a new acceptance in a lifestyle. A sitcom with the same phrase (The New Normal) that premiered at the start of the 2012-13 TV season on NBC emphasized upon the antics of a gay male couple seeking a baby. In a post modern world, a single sex “married” couple is a small yet existent part of the domestic landscape compared to twenty years ago where such a couple would be rather small in number, if existent at all. (For the record, NBC announced that this new sitcom that was expected to blaze a few trails so-to-speak, has been canceled!)
Changing one’s way of acting upon a moment or situation isn’t really new or unique. The self help craze that began in the 1970’s, taking off in the 80’s, and continued through the 90’s and well into the new millennium, noted from time to time about “inventing yourself”. It’s about changing with the times; not necessarily the domestic time, but the “times” one lives through based upon personal circumstances. Growing up emotionally fits into this reinvention. However, many folks don’t take growing up it stride, still acting the way they were in their teen years, even though they can be way past thirty! By the time one reaches forty (i.e. “middle age”), then acting the same way as a youth doesn’t cut it anymore and thus, going through the process through domestic life becomes something as a new normal.
Is one uses their favorite search engine typing in “the new normal”, one will receive a whole lot of answers to those three little words. Some will reflect upon what this article speaks about, and a few more choices flag down other unrelated matters. No matter what one may find, there is more than enough to ponder upon.
So as times get better, worse, or just stay the same, there will always be a normal, or a newer one to take its place. However, by the moment where things and events finally fall into its own set place, sure enough, something else is going to turn things about! This moment should not necessarily be labeled as a new normal. Then again, what is normal anyway? Perhaps that’s a topic for another issue as it’s normal enough to quit while one is ahead! And we can’t get farther ahead than that!
——————————————————————————————————————-
ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE
is a presentation of Linear Cycle Productions
Details@AccessiblyLiveOffLine.com
AccessiblyLiveOffLine@gmail.com
Details@LinearCycleProductions.com
http://www.AccessiblyLiveOffLine.com
https://www.facebook.com/accessiblylive.offline
@AccessiblyLive (Twitter)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEHxSllfDItpWh3z8vuUb_w
(Accessibly Live’s channel on YouTube)
http://www.LinearCycleProductions.com
(Look for us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and see us on YouTube!)
ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE (C) 2021 Linear Cycle Productions. All rights reserved. The views and opinions are those of the writers, and not necessarily of the staff and management. ‘Nuff said!
ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE 