Joseph Mencel & Leah Mencel discuss the popular trend of hyper-focusing on life going back to "normal" after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. The episode opens with a discussion of why, as humans, we are wired to avoid uncertainty at all costs, and how focusing on the pandemic end date will almost certainly negatively affect our mindfulness and our ability to embrace the present. Joseph & Leah then then explore the question "What is normal?" and analyse why so many of us are in a rush to get back there. They discuss the multitude of lessons that being present during the pandemic period can teach us, while considering what our experience of COVID-19 may look like in restrospect. They close out of the episode by exploring the idea that embracing the uncertainty of the pandemic period and leaning into the vulnerability created by it may actually be the key to making the most of this historic period of time we are all living through. An episode full of hidden gems that is sure to spark some interesting thoughts of your own. You'll want to listen to this episode more than once.