The Danger of the “New Normal” and What I’m Doing to Avoid It

I’m trying something starting this week, and I thought I’d share the experiment here, as both a means of accountability and in order to start a discussion. Because, honestly, in the words of John Mayer, doesn’t it feel like we’re all sitting around “waiting on the world to change?” Or perhaps it’s just me. But I’ve spent the past few weeks adjusting, following rules, getting loads of fresh air, and… waiting.

Waiting for better news reports.

Waiting for word of more comprehensive testing in the US.

Waiting for my favorite eateries and flea markets to reopen their welcoming doors.

And waiting for things to go “back to normal.”

And I’ve not been waiting with ill will. In fact, my normally impatient self has really benefited from this quarantine time. I take stock daily of the little blessings in my life, and I’m happy to abide by the rules. But by relinquishing myself to float with the current of the world situation, I’ve lost my direction.

And I’m sure I’m not the only one. A few weeks of baking everything under the sun (shameless shoutout for Wunderbrot!), becoming a furious weekend biker, and scheduling my Saturdays around the German Harry Potter reruns on TV was good for my soul. But now I’m recharged. I’m refreshed. And I’m ready to go.

It just so happens the rest of the world is not.

So what do we do? Well, as you can imagine we can’t all just say “F*ck the police” and the rules and go back to doing whatever we want. No, I don’t think that would grow my friend circle in Hamburg (something I was enthusiastically pursuing before being interrupted by… whatever this is). So I’ve decided to harness the energy of this “new normal” and go about my previous plans and passion points the scenic way. Like a long-winded detour, filled with a few hurdles and hopefully a few Hofladens (the neighborhood stalls selling local German products), stretching towards the same destination as my pre-quarantine path.

I only say this here, because every news program lately has been filled with sound bites of the “new normal.” And don’t get me wrong, I understand we’re all going through massive changes in our routines, and like every other post on my blog, please know that I write all of these words with a heightened awareness of the immense privilege I have in this world.

But in accepting this “new normal” I think we have to be careful not to use it as an excuse or justification of being derailed entirely. A few side steps and a picnic stop to breathe and take in the view? No problem. But using the “new normal” as a shield for reality is not something I intend to do. Because at the moment, it’s impossible to predict the future of shutdowns, face masks, and social distancing. And personally, I can’t just keep waiting for the world to go back to normal. It’s not good for my mental health. Definitely not good for my physical health (HELLO snack time all the time!). And totally cramping the style of my creativity.

Let’s Take the scenic Route

So starting today, I’m hopping back on this scenic detour and regaining the direction of my life. Or, at least, trying to. That sounds a bit dramatic, but the only way I can really sum up the past few weeks would be “lacking direction.”

And what does this dramatically epic wording even mean?

Nothing major.

But it means getting back on (sort of) track. Enhancing my routine. Getting up at 8 on the weekends to make the most of the fresh air, sticking to my runs, dedicating time to my blog and pictures even if I feel uninspired (because that’s often when I need them the most), and going about my days with the same purpose and drive that Emily Claire Hughes, the human who used to have trips and travels to look forward to, and recently developed an affinity for niche, networking events, had, circa February 2020.

It goes without saying that the trips, travels, and networking events aren’t happening anytime soon. But by putting forth the same energy into my days, and filling my minutes and hours with the same zest and purpose as I did a few weeks ago, I can’t help but imagine what other collaborations and opportunities might come my way. Within the last few days, I’ve been asked for an e-meeting with someone at my coworking space who needs help understanding the world of influencer marketing, and vetted for a major copywriting campaign for a women’s health startup. I didn’t get the copywriting gig, but this is one time where I can honestly, say it doesn’t matter. Because whether I spent my free weekend hours pouring my creativity into my keyboard for somebody else or for myself, the ignition is lit regardless.

It’s my new normal. 

And just like the previous normal, I want to fill it with energy, optimism, and hard work. Full disclosure, there’s a bit more mystery speckled into this normal, as the projects are more unfamiliar and the social etiquette unknown. (How do you tell if a face mask fits correctly? And how big is a meter actually, because I just pretend it’s the same thing as a yard and hope for the best.)

So that’s it.

I had my six-ish weeks of waiting on the world to change. If anything, maybe I’m finally learning to listen to the universe because look around y’all! The world is certainly changing. It’s just not changing the way we imagined it would.

So let’s regroup. Recharge. And reignite the fire that was in our lives before. And who knows, maybe we’ll even enjoy a few things about our friend, the “new normal.” Like kindness at the grocery store. A newfound determination to successfully grow basil (I’m failing miserably- any and all tips are welcome). And exploring opportunities to flex new skills and work in fields you previously thought were off limits (hello five billion health and medical startups, creative food delivery companies, and online learning collectives looking for awesome employees, aka YOU!).

It’s not life as we know it. But I’m committing to a life that I want to call my own. With drive, determination, and a few meters distance, whatever that even means…

Want to join me?

Drop me a note in the comments below and let me know.

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