Dissociated Thoughts

The Norm

Post 5 of 8 for June "Journalistic Intentions" 
Prompt: Insomnia is just another way to brand yourself "not normal". by Black Crisis

         What exactly is "normal" in this day and age, where everyone tries to be more outlandish than the next person? The Merriam-Webster's dictionary states that normal, when used as an adjective, means "conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected." And when used as a noun, "the usual, average, or typical state or condition." So, what is the usual, average or typical? Is yours the same as mine?
         In recent times, it seems to be more the norm for people to have issues of some sort rather than to be without. How much has to be wrong with a person for others to label them as "not normal" anyway? Or is "normal" a term relative to the persons or group perceiving it? For most people, it would not be normal to live with chronic excruciating pain, but for people like myself, it is unfortunately our norm. Does normal change as our societies change or with differing societies? History tells us that it does. Approximately eighty-five years ago, public hangings were normal, whereas nowadays it is highly frowned upon (to say the least). The normal for people in upper North America is completely different than the normal of those in South America. Until we all begin to realize that normal is relative to the person or group perceiving the issue in question, the peoples of the world will continue to label and discriminate against those we deem as not normal. Personally, I think the word normal is over-used and often misunderstood. Then again, I am about as normal as a unicorn in a pond of sea cows.

LeJenD'Poet - Just Tryin' to be ME.