“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!”
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 not 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.
“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, they have learned compassion through this. When you meet such a person I can only recommend that you make such a person your teacher!
Of course, there is a lot in 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 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
🎶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…
📚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.
👀Impressions
Mad as a hatter…
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 🤗
MY JOURNEY 