Our New Normal

My college roommate calls it our “new normal”, and to some extent, she is correct. Everyone will reach their new normal if they live long enough. It’s not a bad thing, it just happens with time, no matter how well you exercise and eat healthy–it will happen.

The extent to which our new normal affects your life, however, depends on the exercise mentioned above and the healthy eating habits you adopt.  But it also depends on what your new normal is.

An illness can change your life in a minute or less, even if you are in great shape for your age.  Joint problems occur just because of wear and tear. Your new normal may be that you are now the caretaker for your grandchildren.  You may be a caregiver for a spouse or parent.

Over the last year, I have been the primary caregiver for my husband, who thankfully is improving. He is now in therapy to help him with his walking and muscle tone.

My bestie for life has gone from having her medicine hooked to her 24/7 to a daily pill.  But now she has to have an oxygen tank with her at all times. She also has a problem with weight loss, and the solution is to eat more.  We laugh when I say people would love to have her problem and the solution of eating whatever, whenever.

A couple of years ago, I was at an event with my sorority line sister and roommate, and I could sense that something was not right, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.  Months later, I was informed that she was in the early stages of dementia.  She needs around-the-clock care, so her children decided to place her in a facility.  I remember talking with her years ago when she had retired.  She said she retired to take care of her mother full-time because, among her siblings, she had enough time to retire fully. Her family and friends started seeing signs sometimes after her mom passed. It came to pass that she needed 24-hour-a-day care.  Everyone has a new normal: her sisters, children, and even her.  They have to adjust to life–their new normal.

Sometimes it may not be anything medical.  It could be that you have become an empty-nester. Maybe you are now divorced, widowed, or newly married.  Perhaps you have downsized your house, you’ve retired, and are trying to find something to do.  You were once the one who volunteered for any and everything; now you still volunteer, but only for the one cause that is dear to your heart.

Our “new normal” should not be scary because we know “thisisy(our)bestyear”.  We intend to live life to the fullest.