Eccentricity

It was a Saturday and we were golfing with some of my friends from UBC. He was an associate dean who called me regularly for advice and she was his secretary and long time golfing buddy.

As I was lining up my putt, I heard his voice, “Can I ask you a work question?”

Pausing my putter, I looked over to him with a wry smile, and said, “I don’t work on weekends.”

He smiled and proceeded to ask me anyway.

“How do I know whether my colleague is mentally unwell or just simply eccentric?”

I hit my putt before responding. I don’t even remember whether I missed or made it.

My mind took me to stories told by others.

A dean who had experience managing such colleagues was the first to tell me that there is a fine line between genius and insanity.

The actual reference is the following:

“There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.”

― Oscar Levant

However, it was an interesting reflection.

I also remember the advice provided to me by someone who shared she was living with mental illness herself. Her mother was always afraid for her wellbeing.

I shared her advice with my colleague that day:

“As long as I am not hurting myself or others, I am doing okay.”

That sounded like solid advice to live by.

Don’t you?

Photo: Tammy Brimner/TLBVelo Photography