See, you can tell I’m neurotic because I keep trying to wrap my head around these tenets that indicate neurosis. Hello, obsessive!

Anyway, more thoughts on tenet #4: “The idea that human misery is invariably externally caused and is forced on us by outside people and events — instead of the idea that neurosis is largely caused by the view that we take of unfortunate conditions.”

I was thinking about the concept of balance and its importance in my own life. There has to be some calm to follow the chaos; some time off to follow the long time on the clock; some crazy to follow the insanity. Wait, WHAT??? But, Terry, you ask, aren’t crazy and insanity synonymous? Oh, contrare, gentle reader.

I take issue with the last part of that tenet above, especially the words unfortunate conditions. See, words to me are incredibly potent, and therefore we need to choose them carefully. I wouldn’t call any conditions unfortunate to start with; they are what they are. Even to call them unfortunate is tipping your hand, is subjecting your view to the negative side to start with. I would change it to…

“…the idea that neurosis is largely caused by the view that we take of unfortunate conditions”

But back to my thoughts on crazy, and its being in a place of opposition to insanity. I’m using a very loaded word here, insanity, to define a set period of time in one’s day (or week, or month, or year) where forces seem to be spinning you out of control, and you fervently hold on to get through it as best you can. That’s insanity. It’s part of our everyday world, and you can either let it sink you or you can use it to inspire you. Hence the yin to its yang, crazy.

Crazy, to me, is a very subjective word that I use to describe a controlled period of time where you can be free to break some rules and go/be someone different, maybe a younger you or a different you.

It’s easy to do. Go on a girls’/ boys’ night out. Dress completely different, and order something you never get. It’s rather liberating. It’s like a big “fuck you” to the universe. Or, well, to the “universe of you.” Everything’s in microcosm! Feel free to go farther, bound by the rules of your family/partner, into crazy. When you get back, the balance helps keep you grounded, and maybe a little less neurotic! That’s my theory, anyway. You can call me “Sasha” tonight!

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