I had a good talk with a friend last night about addictions and obsessions. We agreed that regardless of how “normal” or “together” someone might appear, they will have some kind of addiction or obsession. Everyone does. I had to confess about mine. I think what I’ve noticed recently is my neurosis about germs. I’ve always been a bit of a clean freak. I don’t like to have dishes sitting in the sink for more than a few hours, and I want my hands to be clean all the time. Lately, I’ve been a bit more weirded out about touching surfaces in public places, like door knobs and handrails, especially in public washrooms. I’ve seen enough people leave the washroom without washing their hands to make my stomach turn a little, thinking about them going back to their jobs flipping burgers or performing oral surgery. A lot of this came from traveling in places like Asia that have exotic germs, but I’ve brought it home with me like a souvenir.

My other obsession is my need to understand everything. I crave the how and why of everything around me. I want to know what makes everything work, how people think, why things are the way they are. At first glance, I think this is generally a good thing, but on the other hand, it can bog me down. Also, if I get it wrong, it can cause confusion and danger! Ok maybe it’s not that dramatic.