They want to be "normal." By which they mean, well, they aren't sure what they mean. Maybe like everyone else. No one else has problems. At least not problems like theirs. The image of the perfect, happy family they see on television haunts them like some unattainable dream. And everyone's friends are living "normal" lives.
The flaws we see writ large in our hearts do not seem to be valid for others. We are not as good-looking, smart, quick-witted, athletic or caring as someone else. We are more aware of our weaknesses than our strengths, anyway. What we are good at, that does not matter. It is the things we cannot do, don't know how to do that reinforce our own sense of not-good-enough.
Can we acknowledge that there is no such thing as "normal"? Actually, the only place "normal" shows up in God's creation is a setting on a washer or dryer. We cling to this standard not because it is a helpful or realistic goal, but because it keeps us from coming to terms with who/what/where we are right here and right now. If we could give up this meaningless quest for meaning and learn to find our meaning in the now, we would save ourselves a lot of suffering and useless effort.
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