To The Girl Who Overthinks

“But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked.

“Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”

“How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.

“You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.” 

Welcome to the club. 

A club created and composed of overthinkers.

To the girl who overthinks:

You are strong, independent, and intelligent. You believe that life itself is a rhetorical analysis. You have a hard time relaxing. So, when you find yourself with a few minutes to spare, boy does your brain go wild. This overthinking stigma is the main reason why you find it hard to trust people. No, let me rephrase. It’s not that you have a hard time trusting people. You’re just so skeptical. Therefore, trust seems so out of reach. You believe it’s easier to see the bad in people, rather than the good. This way, there’s no expectations. No high hopes. And definitely no surprises.

You want to know everything. If you know everything that means you will never encounter a curveball. You believe that knowledge is power. Knowledge is a superpower that shields you from the the world. You are by no means gullible. You enjoy learning little details and solving mental mysteries. You find comfort in preparation.

You make mental to-do lists when your brain settles down for the day.

You want control.

You want to protect the people around you. You feel like it is your responsibility to care for your loved ones.

You want the last word.

You hate the unknown.

You weren’t always an overthinker. You have suffered. You have felt pain, maybe even heartbreak. These things have made you stronger. These things have made you an overthinker.

Overthinking is not a bad quality. Okay. Most of the time it is. Most of the time it drives you crazy. But, the art of overthinking makes you who you are.

It’s hard to fall asleep at night with a million thoughts racing in your head. Your life is one epic attempt to decode and analyze the people and things around you. Your life is one epic attempt to decode and analyze yourself.

You will never stop overthinking. It’s just the way your brain works. But, you are not alone. You are never alone.

“We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”