Taboos

Norman Mailer describes his own Conversation with God in On God - An Uncommon Conversation. He remembered one day when he was dumped by his woman and went out on a drinking spree hoping he would get lucky, but he didn't and ended up sitting drunk in a diner with a coffee and breakfast. Suddenly he heard a voice 'Just get up and leave". What do you mean, he wondered, I can't just leave without paying my bill. When he reflected some more he realized that as an author describing the eternal human struggle between good and evil, he should be able to cheat a poor waitress out of her well deserved money. You little prick, he said, just get up and leave!

What are taboos? They are mental constructs and change over time and cultures. It can be very liberating to tear those walls down, and may be part of the psychological healing process. Of course, I am not suggesting you should be irresponsible in your actions, but I am saying it may be useful to shake your internal walls a little. Let's go back to the example above. Perhaps our waitress would have gladly forgone her 5 bucks if his strange behaviour inspired Normal Mailer to his next bestseller.