Lewis Carroll got it right. When Alice in Wonderland was published in the mid-1800s (1865 to be exact), the world was shaken. Through brilliant words, similes, metaphors, and so much more, Carroll brought a whole new world of insanity alive – one where madness was not only accepted, but normal.
“You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All of the best people are.” – The Cheshire Cat
Isn’t this so true? Being a writer, I have written many pieces on how being “mad,” or crazy, is better than being quote-on-quote normal. I am not a normal person and you know what? I prefer it that way. I am a makeup artist that loves Metallica and laughs at my own puns. I screech in the car instead of singing, I dance in stores… I am the epitome of crazy. And so are my friends. But the best memories are made by being reckless, crazy, entirely bonkers… And I wouldn’t want my life to be any other way. Crazy is underrated.
“I knew who I was this morning… But I’ve changed a few times since then.” - Alice
Life is full of new situations and new opportunities every day. And those situations and opportunities change you – whether you realize it or not. You won’t be the same person after dealing with a crisis. You won’t be the same person after doing something challenging.
“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.” – Cheshire Cat
Sometimes, well… I’ll be honest. MOST times, I have no clue what I’m doing in life. I think I want one thing and then the next thing I know, the plan is ripped out from under me, leaving me trying to find my balance yet again. Life is one big journey. There will be forks in the road, detours, construction… Tough, tough decisions. You may have and end sight or you may have absolutely no clue where you are or how you even got on the trail to begin with. If that’s the case, just keep following. You’ll get “there” eventually.
“The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.” – The White Rabbit
We are such a “go go go” society that we often forget to stop and breathe in the moments of quiet and calm. We rush here and there all the time; barely looking around to see what’s actually happening right in our backyards. Stop. Put down your phone. Clear your evening schedule. Go out and stargaze, walk through a field of flowers… Do whatever you need to do. Just be in the moment. Or rather, just be.
“How long is forever?” “Sometimes just one second.” – The White Rabbit to Alice
Tying into the above quote, life happens in the blink of an eye. Don’t be too busy or too “on the go” to not see it. Stop. Breathe. Relax. Melt away. Be.
In my opinion, Lewis Carroll was way ahead of his time. Of course there is the constant speculation on how Alice in Wonderland was actually written, the meaning behind some of the symbols written… But overall, look at the book in its entirety. No matter how it was written… What symbols were used, what word pictures were painted, the book doesn’t make sense and is completely lunatic. But it also makes all the sense in the world.
