Conforming to the usual standard, type, or custom is the first formal definition for the word, “normal” (Encarta Dictionary). So, who decides what the usual standard or custom is? Is it society, the media, or individuals who decide? If it’s society, that would mean being someone that everyone else wants you to be, which sounds awful and unsatisfying to me, as I’m sure it does to most people. If it’s the media, that would mean being and doing exactly as the news and other shows tell you, another very unappealing concept. If we decide who and what to be, would that even be considered normal, as we’re following our own standard and not the usual standard? Peoples’ perceptions and interpretations of the word are all different, so how do we know what normalcy really is?

There’s a traditional family: husband, wife, 2.5 kids, a dog, and a cat. The husband is the breadwinner and goes to work every day, while the wife stays home to take care of the children, the pets, and the household. This was pretty much how my family looked when I was a child. The “abnormal” part was that we were military. My dad was in the Army, so civilian life was an odd concept for us, Dad leaving was something we were used to, and moving to a different state every 2-4 years was a change we all knew pretty well. There’s the single parent: kids, full-time college, trying to work from home to be able to be with the kids, and living either with parents, roommates, or alone with the children. This is kind of like my current situation, and most people think it’s strange that I live with my parents, or that they would let me live with them at my age with my children. Then there are the single adults without children: Living with roommates, working, partying on the weekends, and possibly attending school. This is the situation of many of my friends, but has never been my personal situation, as I’ve been a mother since the age of 18. Most people think that’s strange about me as well, having raised children from such an early age.

In each of these situations and to each of these people, their lives are normal. Their routines, their jobs, even their eating and sleeping habits are all normal. However, to the single adult who likes to go out and drink on the weekends, a life of church and not drinking alcohol or coffee would be a very strange concept. A life with children around 24 hours a day would also be a completely different prospect for them. To the traditional family, a sudden divorce and having to adapt to being a single parent would be very weird. However, to the single parent, that life is already normal, and another marriage might be completely out of the question. So how do we define normalcy as far as people go?

The second definition of normal is physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy (Encarta Dictionary). This is a tricky definition, as most people have some kind of physical or psychological issues. Not to mention, everyone handles hardships differently. Some people go to counseling, others play a sport, some play an instrument, and others write or draw. Some have a hard time handling stress, and they get angry. Other people have a hard time with stress and they completely shut down. So, if you’re healthy, is it normal to be fat or thin? Is it normal to eat cereal with chocolate milk? Is it normal to be lower class, middle class, or upper class? Which one of these would be more normal depending on your geographical location: Hollywood versus Rock Springs, Wyoming, for example? Is it normal to be financially stable or is it normal to be in debt?

For each individual, the routine and lifestyle they have is normal. They may or may not perceive themselves as normal, but the life they built for themselves is their normalcy. However, if they don’t think of themselves as normal, what is that individual’s idea of normalcy? Would they want to be normal, or are they content being the way they are? Since the perception of the word varies so much from person to person, from life to life, how can there be a definite answer as far as what normalcy really is? If the definition of the word is just someone’s perception of the concept, then it is also inaccurate. None of the synonyms for the word normal have anything to do with a majority rule. Usual, standard, regular, ordinary, typical, common, average, habitual, routine (Encarta Dictionary: Thesaurus); all of these synonymous words are relative and depend on individual perception. People who are considered normal are the ones who are in the majority, whichever class or type or standard that might be. However, this still leaves the dilemma of every individual having a different perception of what normalcy is. Normalcy, in and of itself, does not exist – only different perceptions of what it is and what it should be.

Sources:
Encarta Dictionary. Microsoft Office Word 2007.
Encarta Dictionary: Thesaurus. English. Microsoft Office Word 2007.