Neurotic? Befriend a "Normie"

Neurotics of the world, unite! Next thing to do is befriend a normie.

What's a "normie"? I will explain in eating terms. In various eating disorder support group meetings, I was introduced to the concept of normie as a "normal eater", aka someone who's not a food addict. Over the years, I've refined the definition for myself. After all, someone might not be a food addict but still have weight-related food issues. Therefore, I define a normie as someone who:

• is comfortable with food
• eats for pleasure and nourishment
• doesn't eat with their weight in mind

I've been exposed to normies over the years, but I'm going to share two recent examples.

About a year ago, I pet sat for a normie friend and when I opened her refrigerator, there was ne'er low-fat or fat-free item. As in, not even one. I stood there, refrigerator door open, shocked. I'd heard about people like this, but I didn't know they really existed. Even people I knew who weren't on a diet had a few low-fat items. She didn't have any. When I mentioned this article to her, she joked that she might not be a normie because she actively avoids eating vegetables. That said, she's never been on a diet, which puts her firmly in my normie category.

Another friend simply eats for pleasure. Of course she eats for nourishment too, but she really enjoys what she eats. She's not an emotional eater - she chooses whatever she's craving, whatever food tastes good to her, eats until she's full, and stops. She often eats healthy food, but it's not to watch her weight - it's because she likes how it tastes and finds it nourishing. Then again, she's not afraid to eat unhealthy things when she wants to.

The friends I've mentioned are naturally slender, but that means little. After all, there are tons of naturally slender people who have weight and food issues.

One thing I've found through my friendship with normies is that their "normal" behavior rubs off on me. Despite not practicing my food addiction,

I still find that I have some neurotic food tendencies, so being around normies helps me stay out of my head and just enjoy the experience. When I'm around people who aren't worrying about their food, I think less about mine. I can contrast that with my non-normie frieds who, while many aren't food addicts, their food issues can trigger my food anxiety. While I love all my friends, I prefer to eat with the normies.

It's not a one-way street, though. I'm sure there are areas where I'm the normie and my food-normie friends are neurotic. Like most friendships, it's a give and take.

What area of your life can you benefit from a friendship with a normie? Maybe you find that you constantly gossip and you know someone who has no tolerance for it. Maybe you find yourself hoarding items and someone else has the ability to effortlessly throw things away. Whatever area of your life you're finding to be somewhat neurotic, find someone not necessarily opposite of you, but someone who seems sane in an area where you're struggling and befriend them. You might find their normieness rubbing off on you and vice versa.