MADNESS 🤪

HAS ITS PERKS

“You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.” — Robin Williams

One of the most beautiful compliments I ever received was from my children when they said: „Mami, you are absolutely mad, you really are crazy!”

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Some might see that as an insult but I always saw it as a great compliment. I guess I have somehow managed to never lose that spark of madness and I am glad. I will even go as far as to claim that I would probably not survive without it. It is this madness that lets me dance through an airport past all the sour-faced people, it is the madness that allowed me to play with my children and have fun wherever we were, and it is also the spark of madness that allowed my children to never really be embarrassed by me, simply because they never knew my any other way. I am definitely not talking about this full-blown madness that puts you in a locked facility of sorts but the spark of madness that makes life colourful and most certainly a lot more fun - especially in the times we are living in.

“There is no great genius without some touch of madness.” — Aristotle

I actually believe that we all have a touch of madness in us - no exemptions. Of course, there are very different kinds of madness. There are different unhealthy forms of clinical madness that are certainly not very desirable. I would call it bad-madness. You are probably right when you think: “Then is there or can there be such a thing as good-madness?” The answer is yes!

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” — Marilyn Monroe

Perhaps the best form of madness is glad-madness. People that happen to be glad-mad are rare and I believe them to be very special. These people manage to live in the moment and are capable of being glad and appreciative throughout all life’s ups and downs, no matter what is thrown at them. One of the greatest capabilities of glad-mad people is that they neither regret the past nor fear the future, no matter what.

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“Too much sanity may be madness and the maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be.” — Miguel de Cervantes

I am one of those fortunate enough to have met one of these rare glad-mad people and I am in awe of this amazing person and proud to call him a friend. He has learned to find wisdom in adversity.

Glad-mad people recognise that everyone suffers, and they have learned compassion through this. When you meet such a person I can only recommend that you make this person your teacher!

Of course, there is a lot between bad-mad and glad-mad. Some of it is good and some of it is not so good. As always I believe that understanding those sparks of madness can help you embrace these and even use them to your advantage.

And if you do believe that you are completely exempt from madness think again. I would only ask you one single question: HAVE YOU EVER LOVED SOMEONE OR BEEN IN LOVE?

If your answer is no, I am so sorry!

If the answer is yes, then you have been or are love-mad - the madness that affects you the most and lets you do the craziest things…

“Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation.” — Graham Greene

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🎶My Song of the Week

This song was brought to my attention by a reader a while ago and I found this amazing live version…

For more good music, go to this Spotify playlist where you can find all the songs from the Change & Evolve Letters!

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📚My Poem of the Week

Is by William Blake - (1757-1827)

Mad Song

The wild winds weep, 
         And the night is a-cold;
Come hither, Sleep,
         And my griefs infold:
But lo! the morning peeps
         Over the eastern steeps,
And the rustling birds of dawn
The earth do scorn.

Lo! to the vault
         Of paved heaven,
With sorrow fraught
         My notes are driven:
They strike the ear of night,
         Make weep the eyes of day;
They make mad the roaring winds,
         And with tempests play.

Like a fiend in a cloud 
         With howling woe,
After night I do croud,
         And with night will go;
I turn my back to the east,
From whence comforts have increas'd;
For light doth seize my brain
With frantic pain.

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👀Impressions

Usually, I would delete this photo but it fits the topic so well 😂. Mad as a hatter…

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If you would like to connect with me, find out more about the Enneagram and yourself, and how it can transform you and your life, I would be happy to take the time for a speed coaching call that you can reserve right here go to my website or simply hit reply and get in touch with me directly.

Wishing you a wonderful start to your weekend and I very much look forward to your feedback and comments!

Yours

Tanja 🤗