‘Normal’

Everything about this word bothers me.

Who decides what is normal? How do you define it?

It seems to me that “normal” is defined by perception – something which can never be generalised. But it unfortunately is. The “Normal” we follow is most often is historically defined by ideals from a time when differences between people were not known. Honestly, “normality” is nothing but society’s conditioning, isn’t it? Psychologically, our normal is shaped by what we most often see around us. In other words, the majority. By that logic, each person’s normal is different, shaped and reshaped by our individual experiences, geographical locations, and opportunities. So, the question arises: is it even logical to generalise it? If not, does the word have any meaning? It seems to me that this is the start of all conflict. We try to fit people into our normal, failing to realise that everyone’s normal is different. In fact, sorry. I’ll take that back…

“Normal” can never be defined. “Normal” does not exist. The word “normal” is itself abnormal.