Dodo Eggs

Mrs. Teply slaps her forehead after making one of her rare, boneheaded mistakes.  She looks up from her work and asks the wall in front of her.  “Am I crazy or is it just me?”

I was sitting on the couch near her working on my latest DodoEgg.  Her question didn’t make any sense.  “After a question like that I’d have to say yes.”  
 
“Well, if I’m crazy then you’re certifiably insane.” 

“What’s the difference?” I replied.  “Are you saying there are different levels of madness?  Can I be twelve percent crazy or thirty percent crazy?”

“Absolutely,” she pronounced.  “I can just look at you an estimate your craziness factor at about sixty-two percent.”

“And where did you get that number?” 

“I’d tell you but you’re too crazy to understand.  Go back to your imaginary website before I decide to double the medication I’ve been slipping into your meals.”

She went back to her work but I didn’t leave the idea alone. 

If one defines madness as anything we perceive that isn’t reality then everyone is crazy to a certain extent.  We may never be able to tag a numerical value to it but make no mistake you’re crazy too.

If I had to peg the number one cause of a warped perception, my culprit would be ego.  Take a quick look at some of the crazy things people do because pride clouds their view of reality.

*Looking down on others because you’re strong, good looking, or tall.  Wait, is it your fault you were given that body or did you just win a part of the genetic lottery?  Would you still credit yourself or your parents if you were born short?

*Feeling superior because of great athletic play causes fantastic delusions of grandeur!  Even if you are wildly applauded, it’s still a game.  Try removing a life threatening tumor or teaching a kid to read.

*Giving yourself a big thumbs up because of a beautiful home, cars and clothes.  These are nice but not if they are difficult for you to afford.  Even if you can afford them, I want to be the first to congratulate you on having the ability to spend money.

*The Bible says, “Knowledge puffs up.” and man do I believe it.  Intelligence is as much of a gift as good health and before looking down on the Neanderthals remember the contribution teachers and parents had in your present state of enlightenment. 

Oh yea, smart people understand the value of good manners and how easy it is for others to despise arrogance.

*Other men’s praise shouldn’t stick to your ego.  It lasts for as long as the words can hang in the air and turns to scorn the second you screw up.  (Which is going to happen.)  People are fickle.

Regardless of what a person’s circumstances are, two harsh realities remain and remove any real reason for the slight insanity that ego creates.  Whether you are rich, good-looking, poor, or butt-ugly, death is coming for you and it can arrive at any time.  Secondly, four hundred years from now not a single person will even know you existed.

I wonder if depression is the next leading cause of insanity?

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