I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid

 In my family, we have this expression which I use all the time, which is, “I may be crazy but I’m not stupid.” I know that things are awful and sad and confusing and tragic, and at the same time, you can’t be in that state. So I guess naturally I tend toward the optimistic. At the end, there is good. And there is the wonderful stuff. There is pleasure. And there is love. So I guess I am an optimist. But you have to be if you continue working. There has to be a reason for doing it. Though I have a great capacity for joy, it goes hand in hand with sorrow and self-doubt. That is a daily circumstance. The sense of loss is palpable every minute of the day. I wouldn’t be human if that were not the case. I have found that there are some very real things that help deal with sadness. Work is one—engagement in a meaningful occupation, the satisfaction of focusing and disappearing into another place. The other is love. Love of my family. Love of rituals shared with them. Basically living life. The day contains many ups and downs. But the point is that you are alive. So you might as well do something that brings pleasure, joy, humour. Also, I walk a lot and listen to a lot of music. Always good things to do.

Bell ringing words from Maira Kalman. Via Explore.