We expect the world and the world expects us to be clear, to be lucid, to be rational, but that mad child is still inside all of us, existing with its relative stupidity, but denied the innocence to justify it. Perhaps, then, to some extent, we should be understanding and forgiving of ourselves as well as others if that child breaks out to blow off a little steam—if we act out of (or at least apparently out of) character, if we make jarring new decisions, if we lose a little grip, if we act a little foolish. There is a wisdom in this sort of general madness; a wisdom that reminds us that there
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