What Is Normal?

Canada
June 27, 2007 9:52am CST
Have you ever felt out of place? Have you ever said to yourself "I wish I was normal..." What is normal - does anyone know?
4 people like this
8 responses
@kampo90 (289)
• Antarctica
27 Jun 07
I really depends on people views of normal for exampel my parent will have a view of normal and my friends will have a viewof normal but in general normal means a conformist somone how does everything that society expects from him he wont be great he won be the worst he will just be plain avreage he wont do nothing that can be signd of as unusal and wearth remembering hi will live his life and he wount do anything to set back or to help society evolve his action. This sumarizez up to that hes action will afect a small group of people and he wont significantly alter the way the world think,acts and lives.
• Canada
27 Jun 07
That's a pretty darn good definition of "normal" - a conformist. I think you're right too by saying that if one continues such "conformist" behavior, that person may not achieve as much as their potential would allow.
• Canada
27 Jun 07
Ah, I think I understand now. So you mean that "normal" is not a real thing, it is something perceived by others? By the way.....welcome to MyLot :)
@kampo90 (289)
• Antarctica
27 Jun 07
thanx; well sor of its like a stnadard for poeple they rate by comparing a person to themself or there group the person how sticks out from the majority like let say: a goth is normal to his freinds but he isint to his parents how may be church going christians to them he would be normal if he was like them but to him and his friends they would be normal if they were like them
1 person likes this
@missak (3311)
• Spain
27 Jun 07
Normal is just the mathematical measure of average things. I feel out of place all the time. I am an OOPArt lol. But I don't think "I wish I was normal...", I rather think "I wish normal was like me..." and then I say to myself "at least I am original and genuine and authentic!". Long life to us Weirds and Stranges!
1 person likes this
• Canada
27 Jun 07
Darn it! You're right and we can't have THAT, now can we...
• Canada
27 Jun 07
hahaha, missak, you're so much fun! I love your statement "I wish normal was like me..." Can I use that one?
1 person likes this
@missak (3311)
• Spain
27 Jun 07
lol... you can, but be aware: if people start using it it will become normal...
1 person likes this
@healwell (1268)
• Ahmedabad, India
27 Jun 07
Well, lifeluver! One can become out of place if he or she does not want to be there at that time by individual wish or by situational thing or by just some kind of inner force occurred for that! I think that what ever happen this way would be also normal! It is depending upon us.. How we look at the thing!
• Canada
27 Jun 07
That's it, healwell - each person defines normal themselves. So, I might be completely crazy to you but perfectly normal to me. What do you think?
27 Jun 07
How does you define *normal* ? I consider myself to be something of a non-conformist, but I reckon I am fairly normal by the usual definitions. Be yourself, hun
1 person likes this
• Canada
27 Jun 07
No worries, recycledgoth (I still love that name!) I'm perfectly normal, haha. This was really meant to be a joke post to see what others have to say about being "normal" Admittedly, though, I think normal is really defined by each individual.
@derek_a (10874)
27 Jun 07
I have felt out of place at odds times during my life. I think this is something that happens to most of us. And what is normal? What is normal for one person may not be normal for another. Who is to say what is normal and what is not? I don't think there is such a thing. We either fit in or we don't - that's it.. :-)
1 person likes this
• Canada
27 Jun 07
Ah HA derek_a - YOU have hit the nail right on the head. As far as I'm concerned, there is not such thing as "normal" because each individual has their own definition of it. Sooooooooooo......when I'm being "weird", I'm actually being perfectly normal.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
28 Jun 07
Of course you are! :-).. Probably the most normal person in the world along with everyone else :-)
1 person likes this
@novida (11)
• Indonesia
13 Sep 07
I'am new in mylot, but i want to give my opinion about being normal. Sometimes I face situation that I can imagine i will never enter it. For an example when i apply new job, I think why ever other people dont endure this. Why I must go through this? It's though for what you must deal. I think I am not normal when deal with the situation. But when i discuss with everybody, did they go through what i have been endure, they also get experience like me. Thanks to God, i got friends to deal with all of the experiences. And they all same with me, not perfect. So i think I am normal. That's all.Thanks....
1 person likes this
• Canada
13 Sep 07
Welcome to MyLot, novida :) You make a very interesting point. If we keep our thoughts completely to ourselves, we may never realize how alike we are to everyone else. It's true that we all face the same fears but not everyone reacts the same way. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
@pallidyne (858)
• United States
27 Jun 07
I used to agonize over this- especially since my parents were definately 'different'-- Made me really strive harder to fit in for a bit--- Then I realized normal could be another name for mediocrity. And I've been Abby-Normal ever since, and proud of it. Dare to be the 'weird' one!
1 person likes this
• Canada
27 Jun 07
I, like you, used to worry over this question as well - also because of family upbringing. I've since learned that my normal and their normal are two completely different things and I'm quite happy now being the "black sheep" - and yes....let's DARE to be weird!!!
• United States
27 Jun 07
What a good question. I don't feel "normal" most of the time. I wonder what it is like to feel normal. I think "normal" is a state of mind where you are at peace with yourself. I also think that problems such as depression, anxiety, & anger are actually from how you think. I think in most cases these conditions can be helped, if not cured, if you can change your state of mind and how you feel about things. I know I'm a lot happier after working hard to change how I actually feel about something. It takes a lot of work to change how you feel about things.
1 person likes this
• Canada
27 Jun 07
I'm glad to read that you've made an effort to change the way you think. You're absolutely right that changing one's way of thinking is one of the most difficult things one can do. It is really hard to change old habits or upbringing but I think anyone can if they really want to.