“We sense that ‘normal’ isn’t coming back, that we are being born into a new normal: a new kind of society, a new relationship to earth, a new experience of being human.” Charles Eisenstein
How do you feel about your new normal? Has it been good for you in some way? Has it created new challenges that you don’t know how to meet?
(Thanks to Joanne for today’s topic. Please leave me some topic words that start with “O” for next week. I greatly value the ideas you, my readers, suggest. Thanks so much!)
Anything new that occurs in our lives may challenge us in terms of understanding its value. The same thing may occur to two different people, but how they see that event or action may vary widely. For one, it may be an opportunity to move on in a new beneficial direction. For another, the change may feel negative and overwhelming.
Many Have Lost Basic Necessities
The employment situation has changed for many. For some people, the loss of income has caused a loss of housing and money for food. For others, it has allowed them to move on to a better paying job that will make life less stressful. Still some people have used this time to create their own business and work from home.
When so many people are in need, it is shameful to allow people making enormous amounts of money not to pay taxes. It is outrageous that such a situation exists, for the amount that they should contribute would provide enormous support for those who are in desperate need, not because they have been foolish, but because they have genuine needs.
I am one of those retired people with a small income. I live in a house because my brother was able to make it available for me and because I am now married. With our combined income, my husband and I live comfortably. However, my income would no longer be sufficient for me to live alone because the cost of every thing is so much higher than when I first retired.
In the area where I live, within the last few years, the rent for a one-bedroom apartment is twice what I used to pay for a two-bedroom apartment. The cost of food is much greater. These are the basics and yet many people’s salaries have remained low and stagnant for years.
We Are In Transition
This is a time of transition. The changes in the environment have pushed us to a point when we need to transform the use of fossil fuel into solar. We need to require affordable housing. We need to raise wages for those at the lowest end of the economy and raise taxes for those at the highest end. We need to revamp our laws to provide care for those caught in drug addiction.
Change Requires New Solutions
Our government is grappling with all these issues, as we are individually. The right changes could transform our lives into a new normal that actually meets everyone’s needs. No one should be going without health care, housing, or food. It has never been more critical than it is now to vote for people who want to make positive changes for especially the poorest.
Recently, I talked on Zoom with a woman whom I’ve known casually for a few years. I was shocked to discover that she believes all the lies being told about the value of the virus vaccines. I wasn’t able to have a conversation with her because as soon as the topic came up she went into a rant. Well, my new normal will definitely include keeping my distance from her.
We all need to respect others who still need to wear masks or keep social distance. There is no way for us to know what health challenges another may face. So hopefully, our new normal will include respect for each other’s well-being, even when it is somewhat uncomfortable for us.
Think Creatively About The Future
When challenges arise, we need to look beyond the obvious. We must become creative thinkers, considering ways of living and relating in ways that we never considered before the pandemic. Even if what we try doesn’t work, we have eliminated one option and can move on to the next possibility. And what we learn on the way may change our lives for the better.
© 2021 Georganne Spruce
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TRANSFORMING THE FEAR OF CHANGE
Awakening to the Dance 