Month: September 2018

What is normal – to each and everyone of us I would imagine we consider our lives the norm – but what is that?

Talking from my own perspective of my life.                                                                     Normal was going to school, studying, getting a job, getting married, having children (okay in my case maybe that last two did not go in the order socially accepted), living happily ever after in the proverbial white picket fenced home.

“Normal”

Adjective –  Conforming to a standard, usual, typical or expected

Noun – The usual, typical, or expected state or condition

But then life happens, and boy has it thrown me a few curved balls, some through my own making and others which have totally side swiped me.

My old normal was working a 5 day week for someone else, 9 – 5, weekends doing the “normal” society expected things, and counting the days to holidays when the norm was not the norm, but at the end of the holiday, looking forward to getting back to “normality”. And I was content.

But with the curved balls, life performed a 180 degree turn with me doing back flips in the middle and I found myself adrift where the “norm” was no longer.  There are times when I yearn for that daily predictability and my “old” life and that feeling of contentment.  Not that I am not content now, just seem to be searching for a feeling of normality.

Been sitting discussing life expectations with others – I understand that as individuals we all crave a different normality.  I just seem to be finding it hard to find a new normality.  Maybe normality can also be called routine and as humans we are all creatures of habit.  At times when life is on a roller coaster ride, routine can be a life saver where you continue living by rote, without even thinking

Photo courtesy – weheartit.com/entry/64842568

So what is my new normal – I don’t have one, as I wrote in my previous blog I suffer from the affliction of seriously itchy feet, my mind keeps going off on tangents where a new normality is imagined and I am living in a kind of unpredictable manner.  I  have realized that I have chosen the path of unpredictability and need to accept that this is my new norm. One thing that has been highlighted in this colourful life I have led, never take anything for granted and live life to its fullest.

So from one “normal” person to another “There is no normal norm, we are all individuals, we all have our own demons to fight, make the most of every moment we have and enjoy your own normality.”

And by this I am not referring to the dreaded athletes foot, which I have to say (touch wood), that despite being involved in sports for many years and showering in some dubious spaces and never wearing slops to protect my feet, I have never experienced.

I am referring to the itch to travel, which in itself is a bit of a disease, because once that bug has bitten I think it is incurable and the only relief is to scratch.

To ease my current affliction I will be exploring this area of the Eastern Cape as much as I possibly can, in my newly acquired little red bug, my Fiat 500, which I have fallen in love with.  If I am going to be exploring, it is only right that she gets to join me. She (as yet, still unnamed) deserves it, as just climbing into the snug red drivers seat, puts me in a good mood.

My plan is to make her the most well traveled Fiat 500 ever.

The idea of a road trip around our beautiful country has been in the back of my mind for quite some time. You know the one which I know a lot of people think of doing, just climbing in your car and keep driving and seeing where you end up – no plans.

I will however need to plan, because in this never ending itch that I seem to have been afflicted with and the need for a goal/challenge/adventure – call it what you may – ultimately I would like to drive to the most northern-most tip of our continent, not just our country.  This is a dream and in my mind I find myself romanticizing about it, but realistically know that a lot of forward planning would be required and understand the hazards of a single woman taking on this venture. I also know that in order for a dream to come true, you need to verbalize it and that the only thing stopping us from realizing our dreams is fear and fear alone.  I am strong believer in the phrase – “If you can dream it you can do it”.  And my own life motto I live by – “If you are going to do something, do it properly, or don’t do it at all” So right now it is off to the planning drawing board.

But for now, while the planning process takes shape, I am content to explore my immediate surrounds in the bug and experience what this little corner of our country has to offer.

Picture 1 of the travelling Fiat – taking it easy at the Nahoon Golf Driving range in East London.

Hope you will all enjoy this journey with me whilst I scratch my feet !