It*started*out*innocently*enough.*I*began*to*think*at*cocktail parties.
Now*and*then*--*just*to*loosen*up.
Inevitably,*though,*one*thought*led*to*another,*and*soon*I*was*more**than*just*a*social*thinker.*I*began*to*think*alone*--*"to*relax,"*I*told*myself*--*but*I*knew*it*wasn't*true.
*Thinking*became*more*and*more*important*to*me,*and*finally*I*was**thinking*all*the*time.*That*was*when*things*began*to*sour*at*home. One evening*I*had*turned*off*the*TV*and*asked*my*wife*about*the*meaning*of*life.
*She spent*that*night*at*her*mother's.
I*began*to*think*on*the*job.*I*knew*that*thinking*and*employment*don't*mix, but*I*couldn't*stop*myself.*I*began*to*avoid*friends*at*lunchtime*so*I*could read*Thoreau*and*Kafka.*I*would*return*to*the*office*dizzied*and*confused,asking,*"What*is*it*exactly*we*are*doing*here?"
*One*day*the*boss*called*me*in*to*his*office.*He*said,*"Listen,*I*like**you,**and*it*hurts*me*to*say*this,*but*your*thinking*has*become*a*real problem.*If*you*don't*stop*thinking*on*the*job,*you'll*have*to*find*another job." This*gave*me*a*lot*to*think*about.
I*came*home*early*after*my*conversation*with*the*boss.*"Honey,"*I confessed, "I've*been*thinking*..."*"I*know*you've*been*thinking,"*she*said,*"and*I*want*a*divorce!"
"But*honey,*surely*it's*not*that*serious."
"It*is*serious,"*she*said,*lower*lip*aquiver.*"You*think*as*much*as**college*professors,*and*college*professors*don't*make*any*money,*so*if*y ou keep*on*thinking,*we*won't*have*any*money!"
*"That's*a*faulty*syllogism,"*I*said*impatiently.*She*exploded*in*tears*o f rage*and*frustration,*but*I*was*in*no*mood*to*deal*with*the**emotional*drama.*"I'm*going*to*the*library,"*I*snarled*as*I*stomped
out*the*door.*I*headed*for*the*library,*in*the*mood*for*some*Nietzsche.*I*roared*
into*the*parking*lot*with*NPR*on*the*radio*and*ran*up*to*the*big*glass doors...
*They*didn't*open.*The*library*was*closed.
*To*this*day,*I*believe*that*a*Higher*Power*was*looking*out*for*me*that*
night.
*As*I*sank*to*the*ground,*clawing*at*the*unfeeling*glass,*whimpering**for*Zarathustra,*a*poster*caught*my*eye.*"Friend,*is*heavy*thinking**ruining*your*life?"*it*asked.
You*probably*recognize*that*line.*It*comes*from*the*standard*Thinker's*
Anonymous*poster.**Which*is*why*I*am*what*I*am*today:*a*recovering*thinker.
I*never*miss*a*TA*meeting.*At*each*meeting*we*watch*a*non-educational*video; last*week*it*was*"Porky's."*Then*we*share*experiences*about*how*we*
avoided*thinking*since*the*last*meeting.
I still*have*my*job,*and*things*are*a*lot*better*at*home.
Life*just*seemed...*easier,*somehow,*as*soon*as*I*stopped*thinking.
I*believe*the*road*to*recovery*is*nearly*complete*for*me.
Today,*I*registered*to*vote*as*a*Republican.