Everyone An Addict

Everyone is addicted to something. Chemically or psychologically. Some addictions are more harmful than others, and some are perceived as less acceptable than others, but nevertheless, they are present in all of us. 'Sleeper' addictions, as I like to refer to them as, are conceptually my favorite. I become extremely amused when someone claims that they aren't addicted to anything. This makes them an excellent candidate to witness an outlying addiction, and perhaps even discover a new one! For research purposes, of course. For those who say they aren't addicted to anything have simply choked their scope of the definition down to mere substance abuse or binge consumption. But there are so many more other things to imbibe and overindulge in, and the 'sleeper' addicts do so in such avaricious excess that they put most alcoholics and drug addicts to shame. The overthinkers. The worriers. The obsession of attempting to apply logic and reason to everything. The obsession of trying to apply emotion and humanity to everything. The information junkies. (guilty) The perfectionists. The list is much too long to list, but one of the most tickling things about the sleeper addict is that very often they will insist that their addiction isn't an addiction. They will often justify it, as well, (typical behavior of an addict) and double down by mentioning how useful their addiction is, and how it can't be compared to anything as base and crude as substance problems. I love these people so much. They are important to me. I feel they have given me such an incredible amount of inspiration over the years, and their denial and acceptance alike has helped me grow as a writer. Good characters have addictions. If they are human, or at least possess humanity, they will possess the beauty and ugliness of being hooked on something. They will fixate, often unhealthily so. It may not manifest itself in the most immediate ways, but it is always present. Because when we want, we want more. When we enjoy doing, we want to do more of it. When we cope, we want to cope harder. When we procrastinate, we want more distraction. Balance is almost always the answer to a fulfilling life, but addiction is always there to challenge it. Yin or Yang can both be too exaggerated, too damp or too warm, but one certainly feels better than the other, at least in a moment. Regardless, I thank the liars, deniers, criers and shameless imbibers. It may be that I myself am addicted to the quirks of the addicted, especially the ones who want to be seen as totally clean and holistically sober. Cheers to the addict: you're in good company, my friend, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart, whether you will clink my glass or not.