What is normal?

You may have seen the 'Bupa' campaign running on TV which focuses on mental health and challenges.  What’s considered to be ‘normal’? Last night as Pauline and I sat in the midst of our current renovation project,small though it is, here in Barrou, she stated that 'this' is normal for us but that another kind of normal might be nice. One where you were not constantly eating dust would be good, or one that offered a settled lifestyle where you knew instinctively where things were, as they would be in their 'normal' place. One that meant we were at a point in our lives where time demands were less important and our choices were,well, our own!

It could be said that choosing me as her life partner was perhaps not her best decision if she had been seeking a 'normal' future. Life has a funny way of directing us down particular paths, some of us choose to go there and others choose not to, preferring the stability of what might be considered as 'normal'. We have chosen to take the paths, was there a plan, not really, a series of events have led us to where we are but through it all we are fortunate to have had,through the ups and downs, choices, where many less fortunate have not.

I am very much aware that Pauline may,like many others, have unfulfilled hopes and dreams that as she toils away (and she does) in the garden or finds her hands stiffening while sanding, she must reflect on but we are doing what our life demands of us and yes at our age she deserves a bit of 'normality' whatever that is. 

We also have children who,to some, might not be considered 'normal' but as lovely people they should not have to worry about fitting into a world that puts unfair demands on them as if it is their responsibility to save it or demands they conform.

All of us have our 'normal' lives to lead and we can only hope we can contribute to the lives of others in some small way to make their lives a little more like the 'normal' they perhaps are striving for...whatever that might be.

As to what brought me to thinking about 'normality', well a 'memory' came up on social media form 2016 (pic above) from when we were creating a corridor and new shower room upstairs here and here we are (below) at it again - for us,for better or worse, this is  'normal' for now!