Dear Frog: My Life Feels Suspiciously Manageable

Q: Nothing is technically wrong.

My job is stable. My relationships are fine. My houseplants are alive. I drink water voluntarily.

And yet I feel uneasy — as if something catastrophic is overdue.

— Waiting for Impact

A: You are describing a condition known as adequate.

This can be unsettling.

Many adults become so accustomed to chaos that its absence feels like a clerical error. When nothing is collapsing, the brain begins scanning for smoke. If none is found, it may light a small fire for reassurance.

Resist this instinct.

You do not need to start an argument, change careers, adopt an extreme hobby, or text someone you absolutely should not text.

If catastrophe intends to arrive, it will not require your rehearsal.

In the meantime, you appear to be experiencing stability. This is not a trap.

Probably.

Stand down. Don't pee into the rain.

— Old Doc Frog