There's Waldo

Otherworldly brilliance, extraordinary talent, and creative genius are buffers that soften the Stigma of mental illness. And while some research has shown a correlation between mental illness and certain characteristics attributed to high functioning achievement, the underlying message remains that mental illness is something a person must compensate for. Natasha Tracey addresses this dichotomy in her article Do the Mentally Ill Have to Be Extraordinary to Be Accepted

So get started on becoming the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art.

And where's the Nobel Prize for your Nash Equilibrium?

And for the truly remarkable, just how do you explain that you've yet to complete a 4th marathon?

What what

That's when I find comfort in the "Where's Waldo" book series. We've hunted for this stripped joker since 1987 having no idea who he is or even his last name. We don't know what he's up to, or why he's always so lost. But he coasts contently past giants, gladiators, and mermaids. Waldo could easily be on the lam, owe someone money, or simply be a poorly dressed, disoriented, serial killer, but there's remained a strange satisfaction in finding him for over a quarter century.

If we can embrace this sketchy wanderer without judgment or prejudice, maybe Stigma can be similarly re-programmed. Strip away the expectations and suspicions and simply view everyone as a harmless but lost traveler who is just trying to find their way home.