What aspect of 'normal' life is alien to you?

[PurpleSky300]

By which I mean... what are the "normal" things of life you haven't yet done or experienced, compared to most people?

For me it's:

Driving, I'm hopeless, just can't get it
I've never been to a club
Anything to do with babies
In-laws
A properly "senior" job

PATHETIC

I'm another one that doesn't do "beauty" things. I've never had my nails done, don't wear make-up, never had my hair coloured and only have it trimmed every couple of months. I wouldn't know what a balayage was if it smacked me in the face. I've never been to a gym (can't stand the thought of other people's sweaty bums) and I don't go running. I don't watch soaps or reality TV and I've never watched TikTok. I'm not part of a Whatsapp group either, and don't want to be. I've also never been to a Spa or had afternoon tea - with no regrets.

And have you noticed how offended some people get that you’re not reading what everyone else is reading. It’s like they’re implying you’re arrogant. You know, “oh, I suppose you think you’re too good to read what the rest of us are reading.” 🙄You read Richard Coles if you want, I’ll stick to Iris Murdoch and Evelyn Waugh and George Eliot.

I'm not always with or near the person I am paying. I book events that I am going to attend online and have to pay by bank transfer as they don't have a Sum Up machine.

I rarely wear trousers or jeans, although l have both in my wardrobe. I tend to live in dresses, l love my dresses

Having lots of casual or short term relationships. It’s not some kind of moral thing I just can’t imagine having been attracted to enough people or them attracted to me.

Being academically successful. I just did retakes and scraped by and underachieved.

Having a proper career. In fact even knowing what career I could actually do. I’m 58 next month and I’ve only just stopped having the odd fantasy of having a proper career.

Watching TV
putting children in nursery
buying Pandora crap

I can't imagine worrying about if something is 'on trend' or not. If I feel nice and like the way I look in it, I can't fathom why I'd worry if it is evident that someone I don't even know decided 'this is what you wear'. I feel the same about decor, cars and anything else really.

Oh, yes. I completely agree with this. To me most trainers just look like trainers. I had no idea until I joined mumsnet that trainers were a fashion statement.

Some of these posts make me feel like I have had a very lucky and privileged life. 💐for those of you who have had struggles.

this. All of this.

But they can talk! When you spend time with them, you communicate with each other. It's beautiful.

Watching any millionaires kicking or hitting or throwing a ball to each other and paying for it.

@whatsupluckyducky @Mangelwurzelfortea This is something people struggle to understand IRL as it is so unnatural, not having the unconditional love of your own mother. I don't think it's possible to process this fully even as an adult in your 40s.

Today while in work I was thinking what a beautiful thing is that total strangers can sympathise and share feelings of kindness on the Internet. Despite the unkindness in some childhoods, there is a lot of kindness in the world.- Thanks again.

Spooky, you sound like my long-lost twin! 👻😄

Re the morning thing (I read your other post), out of interest do you have any sleep issues? I've had a rare sleep disorder all my life that I'm under a sleep clinic for nowadays, and although I sleep better now I'm on melatonin, I'm still more or less permanently sleep deprived to some degree, and a total zombie in the mornings, takes me ages to get going properly. Not being a morning person can be quite limiting in life, as you say. 🙁

Using sat nav’s. I can’t seem to follow them. Rather an old fashioned map.

I’ve never been into beauty so I’ve never had my nails done, never had my eyebrows done, never had filler or Botox (I wouldn’t really class them as usual but a lot of people seem to get them these days).
only make up I wear on a regular basis is mascara.

I’ve also never experienced what it’s like to be one of those people who can get places on time constantly. I’m always late for everything and if I really have to be on time I have to get there so early it’s ridiculous!

oh yes, and I’ve never used an air fryer. Though I might buy one in the next few weeks!

Oh, I forgot, I loath shopping, especially window shopping..I will go to the shops if I want a particular item.

Living in a city
Books
Slug brows
Lip fillers
Drugs
Working for someone else
Cats

How do you manage in a strange city on multiple lane roads when you are on your own?

My OH does not use a satnav and is instead a confirmed map user.
He checks the route beforehand, memories the road numbers and will look on Google SV for landmarks. He has an amazing sense of direction, has driven extensively and give him his due, it works and we have never got lost or even taken a wrong turning (handy when in a large Moho😆).

When he is driving, I tend to set the satnav purely out of interest to see where we are on the map.

Same...hate it..rather stick pins in my eyes than go mooching around shops.

I plan my route beforehand, and look at road signs.

I am a bit of a map nerd and am perfectly capable of reading a map and can memorise the route down to the southwest from Yorkshire, for example - M1, M42, M5, but I can't memorise navigating through Bristol or Exeter. Besides, I use my satnav for traffic updates.

I can't stop and look at a paper map when negotiating the one way system round Leeds and am very sceptical that someone who has never been to Leeds before would find it easy to find their way around without a navigator to direct them or a satnav.

I plan my route beforehand, and look at road signs.

Sorry, but I struggle to believe that anyone could find a specific address in a large city with one way systems with roads several lanes wide by memorising a map.

Weight and clothing sizes - being able to look at someone and say ah yes you're a size 14 but you've lost a bit of weight the last couple of months.

Enjoying horror films or anything else that is frightening.

Drinking alcohol regularly.

Running.

Live music - it's always too loud.

all of those.

Used to happen before sat Nav’s were invented.