BLOG POST-47 Who Gets to Decide What's Normal?

 

                  Who Gets to Decide What's Normal?

                                       Who decided what's normal anyway? Discover why normalcy is subjective, how it evolves                                                           with time, and why celebrating our differences matters more than fitting into someone else's definition.

 

Normalcy isn't a fixed standard—it's a moving target that shifts with perspective, time, and context. You're abnormal to those who can't understand you—and they're abnormal to you. Normalcy is subjective. Discover why celebrating differences in thought and ability matters more than fitting someone else's mold.

Normal is boring. Normal is ordinary. In our modern world, thinking outside the box has become the new mantra. Being extraordinary, exquisite, impressive, and magical—these are the qualities that define those who refuse to settle for ordinary. Your preferences, thought patterns, and perspectives are the ingredients that make you who you are. The key elements of your identity are your outlook, attitude, and perseverance.

Here's an interesting paradox: when someone cannot comprehend or reach your level of understanding, they may label you as "abnormal." But remember, you likely appear equally abnormal to them because they cannot comprehend your actions either. Normalcy, it seems, is entirely subjective.

This subjectivity extends beyond individual quirks and unconventional thinking. Another dimension of "normal" in society concerns those with developmental challenges or mental disabilities—people traditionally labeled as "abnormal." In focusing on what makes them different, we often forget that these individuals possess gifts and sensitivities that we "typical" people lack. This is why we now refer to them as children or people with special needs, or as differently abled.

                                                       

I'm grateful that society has begun recognizing parents who raise such children as the super-humans they truly are. During my time volunteering with an organization supporting these families, I witnessed firsthand how parents navigate the extraordinary challenges of raising differently-abled children. I remember a boy who, though differently abled, sang beautifully. His parents didn't focus on what he couldn't do—they celebrated what he could. They encouraged his gift and even created a YouTube channel for him. Then there was another boy, highly aggressive, who would hit and pinch his father constantly. Yet that father never wavered. He looked at his son with nothing but loving eyes, every single time. These parents showed me what unconditional love truly means.

This is their normal—not abnormal. As a society, we should help these families see themselves as typical parents raising wonderful children living customary lives. If we offer them the support they need, we create a better world for everyone.

Beyond individual differences and abilities, there's yet another layer to this conversation. Society has ingrained in our minds that established conventions define what is normal. But with changing times, what was once considered normal evolves. Change is inevitable—uncomfortable, perhaps, but necessary.

Think about remote work. Not long ago, working from home meant you weren't serious about your career. Today? It's standard. Or consider mental health—a topic once whispered about in shame. Now we openly discuss therapy, anxiety, and depression. These conversations are not just accepted—they're encouraged. What changed? Not the work itself, not the struggles themselves—but our understanding of what's normal.

The question isn't whether you're normal by someone else's standards. It's whether you're living authentically by your own. The conversation about what is "normal" continues to evolve. Perhaps the true measure of progress is not forcing everyone into a single definition of normal, but creating a society where diversity in thought, ability, and expression is not just tolerated—but celebrated.

Who defines "normal" in your life? Is it your family, your workplace, society at large? And more importantly—do their definitions serve you, or is it time to define normal for yourself?