but it's so painful to think, and tell me, what did thinking ever do for me, to what great place did thinking ever bring me? I think and think and think, I've thought myself out of happiness one million times, but never once into it.
In "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," the narrator expresses a deep struggle with the act of thinking. They reflect on the pain that accompanies their thoughts and question the value of overthinking. The narrator feels trapped in a cycle of contemplation that only leads to unhappiness, suggesting that excessive reflection has not brought them any joy or fulfillment.
This internal conflict highlights the idea that sometimes, overthinking can hinder our ability to find peace and happiness. The narrator’s realization serves as a poignant reminder that while thinking can be informative, it can also create barriers to emotional well-being, leading them to seek a way out of this exhausting mental pattern.
