I love the following poem written by Emily Dickinson.
I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – Nobody – too?
Then there’s a pair of us!
Don’t tell! They’d advertise – you know!
How dreary – to be – Somebody!
How public – like a Frog –
To tell one’s name – the livelong June –
To an admiring Bog!
I don’t know about you, Dear Reader, but I think I might be neurotic.
I first thought this because I repeatedly wake myself up at night pulling my hair, then rubbing my hand against my lips to see if I have pulled out any loose hair.
I also thought this because there are certain names, words and phrases that I enjoy repeating over and over to myself in solitude, for apparently no other reason than enjoyment of the sound of my own voice.
I further thought this because I repeatedly watch the same television shows over and over, waiting for that one favorite quote that would fail to even be noticed by most other people.
I may not be as neurotic as I think. Google research tells me that the scientific term for the ability to enjoy something more after being exposed to it initially is the “mere exposure effect,” “familiarity principle” or “binge-watching”. This means that familiar things are easier to process and require less mental energy.
I am happy to enlighten you, Dear Reader, that rewatching and rereading the same movies/television shows/books can be a source of comfort and coping, a method to escape the real world. This can be a stress reliever from constantly required decision making, an antidote from the ensuing mental energy drain.
I am further informed by Google that repeatedly watching the same movies and rereading books leads to “media-induced nostalgia,” allowing us to “dive into a social world that we already know and already feel connected to.” Repetition breeds affection, leading to great enjoyment. When viewed in the light of electronic media, it undoubtedly helps Xfinity sell DVR storage.
But, I ask, what does being a neurotic actually mean? Am I neurotic or not? I looked up the definition on trusty Google: “having, caused by or relating to neurosis.” Some help that was!
I thought I needed more information to determine if I might be neurotic. I took a deeper dive into Google. The following tendencies are common neurotic traits, according to verywellmind.com: negative emotions; anxiety; irritability; emotional instability; self-doubt; depression; shyness; moodiness; sadness; depression; inability to handle stress; mood swings; lack of resilience; chronic worry; viewing neutral situations and minor problems as overwhelming threats; impulsivity; feelings of jealousy; easily frustrated or angered about common occurrences; fearful and guilty over minor events.
Well, Dear Reader, after considering all this, I’m afraid that not only I but you also might be neurotic, at least sometimes!
I learned that neuroticism is one of the “Big Five” personality traits, along with extraversion (that’s not me), openness (sometimes I’m too open), conscientiousness (I have that tendency, though it seems to lessen each day) and agreeableness (that’s usually me, I think).
I am not sure that I like the definition of neuroticism. Thankfully, there is a positive slant on this trait. According to the same source, neurotics tend to be more creative, deep thinkers with “a great deal of emotional depth and empathy.” Another source tells me that a potential job for those who rank high as neurotics is to be a writer!
Additionally, a study published on forbes.com found that neurotic people may live longer.
Management Today informs us that Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and Winston Churchill (and possibly Steve Jobs) have been identified as neurotics. Fascinating, as Mr. Spock would say!
I’m not sure what I am. Perhaps a clue might be the number of times I’ve used the personal pronouns “I,” “me,” “my” and “myself” in this article. Maybe I’m just self-centered.
Perhaps, “I’m Nobody! Who are you?”
I think I'll just put an "Out of Order" sticker on my forehead and call it a day.
Answer to Question of the Week # 21:
What did the twins argue about?
Which one of them was unplanned.
Question of the Week # 22:
What famous professional wrote the book A Urologist’s Dream: Repairing Toilets? (See next week’s article in historicunioncounty.com for the answer.)
Email Humor:
Due to my time alone, I finished three books yesterday. And believe me, that’s a lot of coloring.