What is normal anyway? According to dictionary.com it means conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.

Here we are, several weeks into the quarantine and things are starting to return to “normal”. But the reality is, the life we lived before is not the normal we know now. You don’t just flip the switch back on and unknow all that you’ve experienced. 

You don’t forget the photos of the body bags lined up for storage in NYC. 

You can’t unsee the image of the faces of the healthcare workers bruised, tired and overwhelmed. 

You can’t unfeel the disappointment of a high school senior when they found out they weren’t going to experience prom or graduation.

Because of this, each and every one of us is new. Not shiny like a new penny. We’ve seen and felt way too much for that. We are, however, new to this new normal that we are creating. Here, we are no longer naïve. Our priorities, connections and values have become crystal clear to us.

Having known the world pre and post pandemic makes us stronger. It gives us knowledge and experience to carry forward as we create our new normal, enabling us to take the best of both worlds and create a better one.

Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our normal but we are resilient.  With any change there are multiple emotions to be experienced. I just want to remind you that you aren’t alone and encourage each person to hold space for themselves and others to process through how they feel. We are all just doing the best we can to find normal.