The Last Word

The New Normal

by Barrie Quappe
Host/producer of "Cayman Crosstalk" on Rooster 101.9FM

Friday, November 19, 2004

Celebrating our past, enjoying the present and planning or dreaming of a new “normal” for the future is a great way to describe the mood of Cayman, two months post Ivan.

Some people are looking at ways to improve their home or business, given a fresh perspective. 

Others are either out of circumstances or desire changing jobs and lifestyle. We are definitely facing a “new normal” that is being defined daily. For example, I attended a small business workshop that was held at the Women’s Resource Centre but was attended by men, women and couples.

The first exercise was to ask attendees why they were thinking of starting a business at this time. Answers ranged from ‘more financial independence’ to ‘wanting more control of my life’ and ‘wanting to live my dream’. One answer in particular caught my attention. It was “to work in an environment of philosophy that does not conflict with my own personal set of beliefs”. 

That one was very thoughtful and I wondered how many of us out there are now thinking about what we are doing every day and if this is truly the way we want to live our lives.

One exercise I was taught at one point was to list all the things you value in your life and try to put them in priority. 

Cover that list and then list how much time in a day you spend at work, with family or on sporting or hobby interest. Then re-visit your priority list and compare how your values list compares to where you are spending your time.

Are you ‘in conflict’ with your own values every day? 

Are there simple changes you can make now to work towards a better balance? 

Being healthy has a great deal to do with being in touch with our values and living our life to follow these.

Some change needs to be carefully planned and therefore I applaud the Government’s efforts to provide free public education and reference for possible funding. What a wonderful “new normal” full of promise. 

Remember no new road is easy but if it is a well thought out change, you will be happy you went for it. The important reminder and disclaimer here is that there are no guarantees that even with education you will succeed. 

Life does not have any guarantees. However, it is much better to have felt the joy of trial even if failure follows. Each time we pick ourselves back up we become stronger.

So go ahead, find your new normal, and even if it is similar to what you were doing before with a few balancers put in. Resources are here now and life in Cayman is once again full of promise for a bright future.

Contact Barrie Quappe “Newstalk” radio show, Rooster 101.9FM. E-mail barriequappe@hurleysgroup.com  

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