I mean really, why not?

Obviously, for practical and sensible reasons, I use the word “crazy” here somewhat loosely but also within the bounds of reason and the whole “do no harm” ethos. But do I really have to say that explicitly and categorically? Apparently yes, according to my non-existent lawyer.

But okay let’s talk about what cR@zY is supposed to mean in this context.

Well, mainly something completely socially, ethically, medically, legally, morally.. okay you know what I don’t want to keep mentioning these disclaimers because it takes away from the joy of discussing it in the first place. I assume you’re a level-headed adult reading this or a well-raised younger person but please be 18 so I don’t get in trouble, please.

So here’s the thing. You probably are — if you’re like most people like me — so scared to fuck up, yeah? Don’t be shocked, I did ask you to be 18 or go some place else on the “safe” internet. Anyway, sorry, undiagnosed ADHD here taking over once in a while but let’s get back on track.

I have a question for you: why? Just why? Why are you so scared? Is there really anything scarier than regret? Seriously. Not even death comes close to that, if you ask me.

Today I woke up feeling I just totally messed up the schedule I was supposed to follow. But if I’m being honest, I didn’t even fuck up “today”. I fucked up last night when I didn’t sleep as early as I was meaning to. And you know what, come to think of it, I also fucked up waaay before that — when I let this happen by the minute, the hour, the day, the week — you get the picture.

All of our screw-ups didn’t really happen overnight.

They’re a product of all those little mistakes we “let go” “at the moment” thinking that probably won’t matter as much in the grand scheme of things.

And I know what you’re thinking — this is turning out to be counterintuitive argument for “not sweating the small stuff” and consequently, not being scared to do things.

But hear me out. The future is inevitable. And contrary to what every guru might tell you, you have very little control over it. You have “some” control — sure. But definitely not as much as what everyone else wants you to think so you’d feel bad about yourself and they’d feel good themselves if they think they’re in a “better place” than you.

Everyone makes one or more stupid mistakes. Oh you’ve done more? Waaaaay more? A ton? So what? Will being scared and held back do you any better? Not in most cases, I bet.

You just have to try and then let go. Then try again, then let go. Rinse and repeat until you either succeed or die trying. No, seriously. Keep trying. Because what else is there to do? What’s your other realistic option, really? Lie down and take it?

Am I suggesting you just roll and die because the future is an untameable beast that you have no chance wrestling with? You’re clever. You know the answer to that. So I won’t patronize you on this one.

But what I do want you (and me — mostly me to be honest) to do is to let go of the shackles of fear that holds you and I to the past, the present and by extension — the future.

I want us to keep moving. Never stop to give fear the attention it seeks to power itself and rule over us. I want us to stare at it confidently ONCE in our lives and move on like we owe neither of our successes nor failures to its existence.

To keep moving not because we “want” to but because we “have” to — and yes that’s another counterintutive idea right there.

Everyone wants to drown in their “feel-good” pill of “I have control over this and this is what I want” when everything around us is clearly showing us that 90% or more of what we do here on earth we actually do because we “have” to.

But this realization and acceptance need not take power away from us in any way. Instead, it should be a beacon of light helping us to navigate life in a way that is kinder to ourselves and everyone else around us.

We are shaped by our situations as much as we are of our intrinsic value systems and everyone’s decision are never made in a vaccum or some ideal laboratory environment.

As Queen ponders, “is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality” — or something like that (can’t be bothered to Google lyrics right now).

And you know what, the answer is actually in the next line.

“Open your eyes, look into the skies and see”.

See things for what it is — not for what you expect it to be. And sure, sometimes — maybe most times — you won’t like what you see. But only in actually “staring into it” ONCE and then moving on do we decisively take back our power. This world we live in right now is filled with so much noise meant to either scare or distract us from the incredibly exciting journey ahead.

It’s our consistent and somewhat endless struggle that makes us beautifully, painfully human. And the deep contrasts between our joys and sadness are what makes the joys more exhilarating.

Whatever it is that’s holding you back and keeping you paralyzed in sheer terror — I pray you gather the guts and gumption to stare into it once and then bravely move on. It’s tough when you’ve been stuck in one place or situation for so long that you know nothing else but complete surrender.

But know that acceptance and surrender are not the same thing. And one of these days, if you want it bad enough because you “have” to — you’ll opt for the former and not the latter.

Someone broke your heart and tore it to pieces? Peacefully gather them back with grace and dignity and be open to try and love again someday when you’re ready. Someone popped your ballon of dreams? Try and blow another one again my darling.

Do that project. Leave that toxic relationship. Marry that girl. Fly to that exotic island. Eat something spicy for Pete’s sake!

Have a liberating day ahead and let’s do something crazy, shall we? Okay, but not too crazy, you feel me? Good.

-RJ <3