Instead of constantly enhancing the norm - forever upping the

Hear the wise counsel of Alice Dreger, who spoke thus: “Instead of constantly enhancing the norm — forever upping the ante of the ‘normal’ with new technologies — we should work on enhancing the concept of normal by broadening appreciation of anatomical variation.” These words are like a clear spring in a land parched by judgment, calling humankind to awaken to a deeper vision of what it means to be whole. For true harmony is not found in endless striving to perfect the body according to fleeting ideals, but in reverence for the wondrous diversity already woven into the fabric of life.

In the ancient days, when the world was young, all forms of being were seen as sacred manifestations of the divine. The crooked tree, the uneven stone, the scarred warrior — all were honored as part of the great design. But as ages passed, mortals began to build measures and standards, seeking to define the norm and cast aside whatever fell beyond its narrow bounds. With the rise of mighty technologies, they began to shape flesh as they pleased, chasing visions of perfection while forgetting the beauty of what simply is.

Dreger’s teaching is a call to return to balance. She warns that when we endlessly enhance the norm, we are like a people forever adding weight to a scale that can never settle. The more we up the ante, the more dissatisfaction grows, and the more countless souls are made to feel unworthy simply for being different. Yet, if we instead expand our concept of normal, we transform not the body, but the heart and mind. In this way, anatomical variation is not a flaw to be corrected, but a living testament to life’s boundless creativity.

Thus, let the generations to come remember this wisdom: seek not to force every being into a single mold, nor to chase the ever-receding horizon of perfection. Instead, cultivate wonder for the vastness of form and spirit. For when humankind learns to cherish variation, the very idea of the normal shall blossom into a garden of acceptance, and all shall find a place beneath its sheltering branches.