Are You Normal Or Insane?

I just got today's "Warrior of the Light" column from Paulo Coelho. It was rather fascinating because he polled his friends, colleagues, etc about what "Normal" was. Here's a few "Normal" (i.e. insane) highlights from the list:

• #2) Making rules for war (Geneva Convention)
• #14) Waking up with a hysterical alarm clock at the bedside
• #26) When you enter an elevator, looking straight at the door and pretending you are the only person inside, however crowded it may be.
• #40) Avoiding depression with massive daily doses of television programs.

And my personal favorite of his... and the inspiration for sharing this list here:

#47) Thinking that your religion is the sole proprietor of the absolute truth, the most important, the best, and that the other human beings in this immense planet who believe in any other manifestation of God are condemned to the fires of hell.

(Did I mention that Paulo Coelho strongly identifies with his Christian religious background... yet still finds the wisdom not to judge others who don't share the same?)

Anyway, glad I don't wake up with an alarm clock on most days, nor watch TV (we don't have cable). But I'm very tempted next time I'm in an elevator to just start talking no matter how crowded it is.

This reminds me of a funny skit I saw (maybe Saturday Night Life?) where a man walks into a crowded elevator and *doesn't* turn around... instead he just faces everybody and stays that way until getting off the elevator. That was pretty funny :)