"Normal" or Not?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-15-2005
"Normal" or Not?
3
Fri, 06-22-2007 - 11:05am

I am very confused; perhaps because myself I've ALWAYS been a mover and shaker and come from a long line of friends and family very much the same. We try to embrace life and enjoy it daily, not to excess but rather to stop and smell the roses, embrace and appreciateion for the world around us, and taking "advantage of all opportunities to experience some fun. We are all needless to say pretty active and avide travelors.

With that said, is it "normal" for people to mentally NOT be able to handle doing "too much". What I mean by that is going to more than one or two restaurants per week makes them NERVOUS. While they enjoy the Discovery channel and gardening can personally NOT experience the awe of going to a show (like Cirque du Soleil), taking a stroll through an arboretum, visiting an Island or taking a trip through mountains and experiencing the glaciers. Also, is it "normal" to claim that if they do ONE "adventure" such as going for a three hour drive lets say to the casinos, its enough of an "adventure" that they are mentally unable to do anything that would require another drive or flight for at least a year? I am talking about NORMAL people with other than some "age-related" maladies, which are not life threatening, and who claim they are often bored, to be going through this. Is this common, because I don't know of anyone outside of these two people who find such difficulty in doing such "simple" things. How do I interpret this and what if anything does one do?

Thank you in advance.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-05-2007
Fri, 06-22-2007 - 3:25pm

Welcome to the board citrisgal,


It could be a specific disorder.... but it could be personal preference, something they have 'grown up' with or been taught, or personal comfort.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-30-2005
Fri, 06-22-2007 - 5:30pm
Some people enjoy going out and doing a lot of activities and other people prefer to stay at home. There is nothing wrong or abnormal about either. Just a person's preference. If you are in a relationship with a person like you, you are either not compatible or did to see if an acceptable compromise can be reached.
Coltaramyspace layouts, myspace codes, glitter graphics
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2005
Sat, 06-23-2007 - 2:52am

Your tone is very judgmental and critical of people who don't pursue life the way you do, "mentally unable," "mentally not able to handle too much." I have a friend who is go, go, go, ALL the time. I wouldn't want her life if you paid me. I like my quiet time. It wouldn't challenge me "mentally" to be busy, it's a matter of personal preference not mental ability. There really isn't anything you can do. Everyone has the right to live their life as they see fit and obviously these people don't share your love of adventure. Many, many people are quite content to putz around in their gardens on the weekends and honestly they would probably think your desire to be on the go all the time is abnormal. What's wrong with smelling the roses in your own backyard?

It is possible they have issues, depression, anxiety, whatever but there is nothing you can do about that either - nobody wants to be fixed or told what's wrong with them. (Think Tom Cruise and his criticism of post-partum depression)