What does it mean to be sane? According to Google’s dictionary it refers to a) a person who is “of sound mind; not mad or mentally ill,” or b) an undertaking or manner which is “reasonable; sensible.” That’s all fine and good, but who gets to judge?
The obvious answer is a doctor. But before that can happen, someone has to take, encourage, or direct said insane person to the doctor in the first place. Because chances are that the truly insane person doesn’t know he or she is insane at all. Not, of course, to put down anyone with mental illness. But for example, I had to be the one to decide to take my Autistic son to the doctor to get checked out. I was the judge in that case.
Moving on…
I often wonder about my own sanity. Considering some of the things that come out of me in my fiction, I think anyone in their right mind would. The thing is, I have no idea where my darker, twisted imagination stems from. I had no significant trauma (that I can remember) in my childhood. I was loved by my parents until my father passed away at the tender age of 49, when I was fourteen. So where’s the psychology in it? Okay yes, I’ve been reading Stephen King since I was fourteen, but can he have influenced me that greatly? No, in fact I don’t think he did.
I’ve had the imagination of a writer since I was very young. I’m talking four or five years old. I remember coming up with stories that, not having the skill to spell, revolved over and over in my head. Some of them even then involved a certain level of torture and sex. So how? Could I have been remembering another life? You may be thinking what I poor child I must have been to have such imaginings, but I grew up with a healthy sense of right and wrong, with empathy, without anxiety or nervousness, and with an understanding of humankind that has prevented me from hating a single soul on the planet. It’s an understanding that has enabled me to write relatable characters. It’s an understanding of everyone else but me.
But then, does anyone really understand themselves? Or does everyone but me?
This questionably “Sane” prompt is brought to you by John W. Howell at Fiction Favorites. Please click on the link to visit his blog, and follow him if you aren’t already!
To find the rules for Just Jot It January, click here and join in today. It’s never too late! And don’t forget to ping back your January 10th post here!
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January 10, 2016 at 6:09 pm
I always think of the line, “Everyone’s crazy but you and me, and I’m not sure about you.”
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January 10, 2016 at 3:39 pm
http://rhymeswithbug.com/2016/01/10/Some-Say/
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January 10, 2016 at 1:18 pm
Sanity?? What is that?hahahahaha 😀 Oddly fits my post (I did not take time to look at the prompt.. sorry… things are a bit uhum..INsane right now. https://idiotwriting.wordpress.com/2016/01/10/a-bit-tied-up/
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January 10, 2016 at 12:40 pm
If I understand myself any better, it’s only due to therapy 😉 I’m a big fan of your brain and I have been declared sane.
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January 21, 2016 at 10:31 am
I am deemed sane by one who is sane! Hallelujah! 😉 Thank you, my dear. 😀
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January 10, 2016 at 12:19 pm
Interestingly, I am planning a post at some point about trying to understand how minds actually work…
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January 21, 2016 at 10:32 am
I look forward to reading that. Have you posted it yet?
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January 21, 2016 at 3:25 pm
LOL – I wish! It’s amazing how many complications have arisen this month. I promise to get to it someday though!
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January 21, 2016 at 3:27 pm
It’s been crazy, hasn’t it? I’ll keep an eye out for your post, whenever you get around to it. 🙂
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January 10, 2016 at 9:46 am
“It’s an understanding of everyone else but me.” You’re still a work in progress Linda 🙂
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January 21, 2016 at 10:32 am
I am! My blog says so! 😉
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January 10, 2016 at 9:18 am
Normal is overrated…sanity is overrated…
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January 21, 2016 at 10:34 am
I suppose our individual insanities are what make us unique. 🙂
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January 21, 2016 at 10:46 am
I embrace mine, just saying – lol.
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January 21, 2016 at 10:47 am
😀 Better than fighting it. 😉
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January 10, 2016 at 8:23 am
I don’t think we can box in “sane” right? What is sane for me is completely insane for you. As long as we don’t kill anyone – or wait! Even that is normal for certain people.
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January 10, 2016 at 9:51 am
exactly! It’s a continuum. We all move along that line and change depending on the day and the situation. No one is 100% at one end or the other. It’s just that crazy human tendency to want to categorize everything. It has it’s strong points, but not everything can be categorized once and for all. 🙂
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January 12, 2016 at 12:54 am
Contnuum… That sums it up perfectly! 🙂
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January 21, 2016 at 10:35 am
Unfortunately, yes. I do think we should all strive not to hurt each other, at the very least. 🙂
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January 10, 2016 at 7:01 am
I thought I had commented on this… Obviously I haven’t. But again Linda you have smashed the theme.
You are one of the sanest people I know. If anyone is sane. I think like me you are a survivor. xxx
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January 21, 2016 at 10:36 am
Thank you, Willow. 🙂 We’ll hang on together, shall we?
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January 21, 2016 at 10:47 am
🙂 we well
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January 21, 2016 at 10:48 am
😀
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January 10, 2016 at 6:38 am
Well, it’s the sane thing to do to write about it rather than act out on them. Great post 🙂
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January 21, 2016 at 10:38 am
Thank you, Bee. 🙂
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January 10, 2016 at 6:32 am
Linda,
You must have a powerful imagination to have had such strong story lines swirling in your head since early childhood. What a great gift!
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January 21, 2016 at 10:40 am
Thanks, Linda. 🙂 It’s a gift I’ll be forever grateful for.
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January 10, 2016 at 5:38 am
http://finallyawriter.com/2016/01/10/just-jot-it-january-10th-2016-sane/
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January 10, 2016 at 5:15 am
https://cornerofconfessions.wordpress.com/2016/01/10/sane-just-jot-it-jan-10th/
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January 10, 2016 at 4:56 am
I think it must be pretty hard to truly say whether or not someone is sane. I am pretty sure that in another era, I could well have been sent to an asylum!
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January 21, 2016 at 10:41 am
You and me both, my dear. 😉
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January 21, 2016 at 10:47 am
I am in good company then! 🙂
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January 21, 2016 at 10:47 am
You are! 😀
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January 10, 2016 at 3:23 am
Food for thought…. Sane huh? Good prompt!
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January 21, 2016 at 10:41 am
Thank you! 🙂
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January 10, 2016 at 2:46 am
Thanks for sharing 😉
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January 21, 2016 at 10:42 am
Thanks for commenting! 🙂
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January 28, 2016 at 11:06 am
You welcome Linda
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