a new
SB LIFE & STYLE wellness
noRmal
Written by Jill de Jong Photographed by Greg Hinsdale
The whole world has been tossed upside down — social distancing, mandated lockdowns, requisite masks, and unusually empty shelves at the supermarket. What was once considered content for a fictional movie all of a sudden became our reality. An unprecedented time that will be marked in history.
We hope the worst of the pandemic is behind us, but regardless things are different. We hear people talk about “the new normal” and we don’t know exactly what that means yet. Even though we are all in this together, we have our own unique experience of this time. Some have lost a loved one to the virus, some have lost their job, while others have enjoyed spending quality time with family and the flexibility of working from home. For all of us it has been a time of reflection, of going within, dealing with many emotions 56 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
and new stresses, figuring out the best way to move forward. When we are not part of the hustle and bustle, we are home and sit with ourselves. What do we do and how do we spend our time? What have you learned about yourself? What if…this first part of the year has prepared us to live more authentically. Meaning, doing more of the things that matter most to your heart. Sometimes we need restrictions to make us feel how much freedom we have. We need loss to cherish all that we have. We need to get lost in order to find ourselves. What if “the new normal” is not decided by outside circumstances but created by you; “your new normal.” At the beginning of 2020, we set goals for the year, made travel plans, had the best intentions to exercise more and eat healthier, yet there is a good chance those plans were disrupted when COVID-19 came to visit.
