# My New Normal **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 22, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560 "2016-09-22T04:02:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/1 "2016-09-22T04:02:01Z")
They tell me in my grief support group that, sometimes, it’s beneficial to make small changes that’ll help you adjust to How Things are Now. Stuff that is a little more permanent or meaningful, to continue to ease through this transition. /psychobabble Well, I’ve decide to put down the old, loopy **faith** , and start over with something bright and shiny, like **joy**. Whether I feel like it or not, dammit. 😃 So, just throwing this out there so there’ll be no search parties (You would’ve, wouldn’t you? Please.) or hurried PMs to mods about suspicious footwear. I simply need to celebrate _something_ and figured, surely, you all would be best suited to the task. Finally, a very big shout to **Asimovian**. He was instrumental in helping me get my fancy, as-yet-untested, moniker. Thanks, man, for walking me through the ropes to a slimmer fit. After all, joy is skinnier than faith. Let the good times roll! ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/2 "2016-09-22T04:24:09Z")
It’s a beautiful moniker! Here’s to continued small steps. 🙂 Hugs! ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/3 "2016-09-22T04:28:17Z")
Embrace joy wherever you find it. It’s lovely! (I totally would have organized a search party! And also written you off line!) ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/4 "2016-09-22T04:41:49Z")
Welcome to the new you! You’ve chosen a lovely _nom de plume_. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/5 "2016-09-22T05:47:57Z")
It’s a beautiful name, and I hope that one day it will describe how you feel. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/6 "2016-09-22T12:54:26Z")
Thank you all! I don’t always feel joyful, but I do often enough to be grateful. And I know the time is coming, so yeah. 🙂 I’m also glad to know that I wouldn’t have just fallen in the cracks if I’d have gone MIA. Bless you, **raventheif**. I’d do totally return the favor, which is why I stalk you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/7 "2016-09-22T16:17:22Z")
I love it! (Both the new name and the reason behind it!) I hope it helps you some. ❤ ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/8 "2016-09-22T18:06:05Z")
Looks great on you! ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/9 "2016-09-22T18:28:23Z")
On another message board I frequent, I use a name that includes “joy”. I agree that it can help provide a brighter outlook. One other thing I do is to change my passwords to something positive and life-affirming. Then every time I type them, I get a little pick-me-up. Not so much on the Dope, because I’m permanently signed in here, but for passwords that I use all the time, I find it does make a (tiny) difference. Welcome, **joyfool**! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/10 "2016-09-22T18:36:17Z")
Looking sharp and fool of joy! ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/11 "2016-09-22T19:57:52Z")
I like it! It suits better, I think! Congrats on an excellent choice! Sending Good Wishes by the ocean full ! ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/12 "2016-09-22T20:20:08Z")
Awww, you guys are awesome! Thank you so much. And I really wanted to try this out most here, because everyone was so wonderful and helpful ever since my husband first became sick. Plus, my other name had become so completely tied up with not-necessarily-good stuff, it was time for a change. So again, a super, duper thanks to all of you. For all of it. \<3 And **SV** , that’s such an excellent idea, I think I’m going to take that on too. I’ll use a “pick me up” wherever I can find them. Gracias. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/13 "2016-09-22T20:28:38Z")
I said it before, and I’ll say it again. I love it! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2016, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/14 "2016-09-22T21:41:59Z")
Thanks, **Rebo**. It’s because of friends like you that I’ve even come through all this. Here’s believing in better days ahead. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-normal/766560/15 "2016-09-30T17:17:27Z")
_HUGS_ I like it! Praying that you find joy wherever you can!