"People disappear all the time.  Ask any policeman.  Better yet, ask a journalist.  Disappearances are bread-and-butter to journalists".

This is from Diana Gabaldon’s book Outlander.

And what it tells me is this:

Most of what we think is odd or unusual is actually completely normal.

In the world and in ourselves.

For instance:

Do you put off tasks until the last minute? 

Well, lots of people do.  I know I do.

Do you catastrophise or dwell on the worst case scenario?  

It’s pretty common.

Do you wish your relationships were deeper?  Find yourself in conflict more often than you’d like?  Or have difficulty getting your point across to other people? 

Join the club.

Do you feel some uncertainty around your career?  A bit stuck or unfulfilled? 

You’re not the only one – not by a long stretch.

And do you have self-doubt?  Perhaps a lack of confidence in your abilities?  Or maybe you question your decisions? 

Me too – and lots of others besides.

Bottom line:

You’re not the only one with your challenges.  Not even close.

And with all this in mind, here’s my suggestion:

Whatever challenges you have, try not to take them personally.  Try not to think your challenges mean that there’s anything odd, unusual or wrong with you.

Instead, you’re one of billons of people experiencing what it’s like to be human. 

And it doesn’t get much more normal than this.

That’s it for today.

 - Tom