A pertinent question if there ever was one, but as far as I'm concerned the question is of secondary importance. What matters more is this - should we desire to return to our normal selves or should we seek to establish new normal selves?
For the sake of argument let's pretend everything returns to the way it was before the birdemic. Does this imply that we should also return to the way we were before the 'crisis'?
And what if things never return to normal? Well, this will likely exclude any chance of slipping comfortably back into our previous 'normal' selves and lives. On the contrary, we will probably be forced into accommodating and adapting to the new normal world in various ways.
So which do you prefer? A return to normal or a new normal?
Either way, we should be inspired to establish new normals for ourselves in this time and place. If our previous normals were on the right track, we should take this opportunity to intensify our efforts. If our previous normals were wayward and misguided, we should seize the moment and strive for more focused and authentic ways of living and being.
As we emerge from the present, we should aim to discard all that is negative in normal - all that is ordinary, conventional, routine, and unexceptional - and embrace all that is positive in normal - all that is sane, healthy, lucid, and right minded. We should then make these 'positive normal' attributes the foundation of our new normals.
Each new normal should be as unique as the individual possessing it, but it should possess a refreshed and deeper understanding of what mortal life in this world is really about and what we should be doing with it.
That's my new normal, and I'll stick to it even if things go back to normal or some new normal begins to take shape around me.