Manifesto

Behavior is contextually based. There are "normal" situations (those for which we have a well-developed schema) and abnormal situations (those falling off the edge of the slippery lepto-curve (please note: this is not a simple bell-curve but is single-sided).
In any situation there are normal (adaptive) responses and abnormal responses. Thus, a 2X2 matrix can be visualized of responses to situations (i.e. normal response to normal situation, abnormal to normal, normal to abnormal, abnormal to abnormal).
I contend that we are all experiencing an exceedingly abnormal situation. I further submit that a normal response to an abnormal situation is, by fiat, abnormal.
The sad part is that many of us have been so "conditioned" to respond normally that we do not give ourselves "permission" to behave and/or think in ways outside our "normal" existence or schema (it gets scary out there - and it's full of risks).
Just before going on combo, I had developed a serious case of "pre-combo anxiety disorder". I sat down and ran a little "self-diagnostic" and came to the conclusion that I was freaqin' out.
This provided me with a great deal of satisfaction. The situation (broke, unemployed, and in bad health) was/is - by definition, exceedingly abnormal - and out there at least 2 s.d. from the mean. Thus, to respond normally would be abnormal. I had the choice of admitting I was crazy (which opens the door on a whole new vista of possibilities) or fighting it ("What!?! Me crazy?") in which case, I would be labelled as crazy for not recognizing the fact that I am, indeed, crazy!
The comfort comes in knowing that is one less thing I have to fight. I'm crazy. I accept it. That gives me rights and priveleges that I would not otherwise have - to think out on the edge.
And besides, we all have to remember the words of that great philosopher, Jimmy Buffet, "If we weren't all crazy, we would all go insane. " (Changes in Latitudes ...).