I don’t know about you, but obsessions sound scary.

They also sound like a perfume.

Who had obsession - was it Calvin Klein or - do you smell a middle school dance when you hear that word?

Anyway.

Obsessions sound scary because they’re kind of like addictions.

Do you want to be obsessed?

You sound weird.

Like, do you want to be addicted?

No! You don’t want that. You’re immediately labeled and it feels like ick.

But obsessions are scary because they’re like addictions but - let’s go to the definitions.

Obsession means an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person's mind.

Addiction means you have a chronic, relapsing brain disease or disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, such as substances or behaviors, despite experiencing harmful, adverse consequences.

Addiction has that despite.

Obsession does not.

And yeah, you’ll still be weird if you’re obsessed.

But to whatever keeps creeping into your brain and preoccupying and intruding on your mind, if it doesn’t hurt you or bring on adverse consequences, you want to notice it.

Nothing wrong with a little obsession.

OK, I’m still thinking of it, so maybe there is or was something wrong with the cologne or perfume. Maybe I’m obsessed with this as a bit or a joke. Maybe you think that’s weird and not funny.

But I’m still laughing about it so yes, there’s something wrong with THAT obsession.

Like in a weird, Rolling Stone magazine foldout, why does it have to smell this way I have a headache now way.

But a little human obsession is the sign that you’re onto something you actually want to do and have the motivation to execute it on, beyond what others who might think it’s weird, are capable of.

I love my obsessions (like making these notes, doing my podcasts, and being insatiably curious about the world around me - even if it produces a stupid joke that only makes me laugh).