Lizzy The kids are back to school, restaurants are open and we can finally get a haircut. The Netherlands is slowly opening up. Everybody is hoping that soon everything will be back to normal, but we are not there yet. normaal Face masks in the train, sanitize your hands and everything needs to go by appointment. And then there is that social distance thing...how much longer?
The new normal?
Suddenly this phrase was there, the new normal.When I heard this for the first time, I was about to fall off my chair. Normal? Nothing normal! Of course, times do change. This is part of life. For example, when all people started driving cars, this became the new normal. And now, everyone has a smartphone, fast internet, it is the time we live in. The fashion also has been changing for ages. Believe it or not, there was a time when it was really silly to wear jeans that were tight around your ankles. We called them 'çarrot pants'. And now even man are wearing skinny jeans! (I'm still not sure what to think about that) See, ordering groceries online, thats what I call a new normal. .It is progress, improvement of life. But that's not the case now, is it?
Feelings
Putting the question aside if the social distance society is actually helpful or not, let's not forget one thing. The new NOW is not normal.So let's not call it normal. But all the feelings you're feeling, yes, they are normal. Those feelings, they are allowed to be there. Those feelings are different for everyone.
Maybe you feel...
- Fear- to get sick
- worried - about your family
- joy - because you finally have time for your hobby
- anger - because the sportschool is still closed
- thankfulness - for more time with family
- Loneliness - because you have to keep distance
- empathy - for those elderly people
- Frustration - working at home is just not working out
- Jealousy - you lost your job but your neighbors business is blooming
- Vulnerable - you lost control
- Love - for those you really want to hug
- curiosity- so many questions!
- Excited - working at home has a good side to it too
- Overwhelmed - by all those changes
- mourning - you've lost somebody
- togetherness - we're all going through the same
- shame - you ate too much lately
- guilt - you might have infected someone
- regret - that you didn't visit grandma when you could
- disappointed - because the concert is cancelled
- surprised - that its all taking so long
- sadness - you can't hug your friends
- humiliation - you feel ugly with a face mask on
- judgment - you disagree with the government
- disgust - there are people taking advantage of the situation
These are about all the feelings you could feel.* I've felt them all these past 3 months. And that's ok. Take a moment and think about what it is you are feeling. Give the feelings a name. Remember you're not the only one feeling that. Remember you are human. Don't get stuck in those feelings, give them a place, talk about it and love yourself.
Give your feelings a name
As long as you can't sit next to your friend on the couch, embrace your father, shake your colleague's hand or greet someone with a kiss...then nothing is normal. What are you feeling right now?
*I used the 'list of core feelings' by dr. Brené Brown. She did tons of research on feelings and stuff. You can download the list on her website.
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