Just Be Normal About Things

8 hours ago

The article critiques modern culture's tendency to turn every aspect of life into extreme, totalizing pursuits, from diet and sleep to politics and wellness, losing moderation.
It argues that extremism is often rewarded by social media platforms and algorithms, which favor intensity, purity, and escalation over normalcy and proportion.
The author advocates for being 'normal about things,' emphasizing moderation, proportion, and the ability to care without being consumed by identity or ideology.
Normalcy allows for contradictions, such as caring about nutrition while enjoying cake, or having political views without letting them dominate one's personality.
Extremism is portrayed as exhausting and ultimately unstable, while normal, consistent habits compound benefits over time, like decent sleep or balanced eating.
Proportion is highlighted as key: not every issue deserves extreme reactions; some things merit a shrug, a nap, or private reflection instead.
The culture of extremity flatters by equating intensity with virtue, but true principles are better maintained without adrenaline-driven rewriting.
The article calls for resisting the pressure to escalate, simplify, or belong through hatred, and instead preserving a private center free from constant demands.
Ultimately, it urges readers to live a life with enough structure for support and enough looseness to breathe, avoiding overcorrection to others' extremes.

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