So many times throughout the course of my cancer treatments I would ask questions about when I could do the things I did before I was sick. Often the answer was, you’ll have to find a new normal. I’ve written about this before and stated that I didn’t want to find a new normal. I wanted my old life back. But what if we looked at it in a different way and stopped to think that maybe normal is just what we know. Perhaps then change would be easier.
I have always had a fear of making people upset and usually do whatever I can to avoid confrontation. I tell myself that if I’ll just stay quiet and do what they want me to do, that everything will be okay. Guess what? In the long run, it really doesn’t work and I end up becoming even more anxious. In this case, my normal behavior isn’t necessarily a good thing. Instead, I need to share my feelings with people. Cancer can teach you a lot of things and the lesson for me here is that sometimes we do need to find a new normal; maybe even a better normal.
Post cancer, what does my normal look like? I cherish time with my family more than ever. I don’t let little things bother me as much. I understand the importance of taking time for myself and the healing power of rest. I’ve learned that going to the beach for the day is not frivolous, it’s what I now call “ocean therapy”. Most of all I have learned that life is going to change whether we want it to or not.
So, what exactly is normal? I’ve found that it’s different for everyone but it seems the happiest people understand that normal changes every day. I encourage you from time to time to embrace a new normal.
Blessings, Cindy J
Footprints of Hope 