The greatest gift in the world is to grant a kindness to another. The amazing thing though is that the aforementioned gift is one you give yourself. It may be a small thing. Leaving a flower for the tired woman at the coffee shop. Telling a stranger that they have such kind eyes. Listening happily to a story told by an elderly friend or relative who has told you the same story a million times. Nodding in solidarity even when you don’t completely understand. Letting a friend or a stranger yell hurtful things at you because you hope it will help them let go of a small part of that anger…that it will open up room in them for the greater things that they deserve.
This is the way the world goes. Small, mean acts affect the next person who in turn amplify that anger or sadness and take it out on others who suffer as well. Then small, kind acts of grace work their magic and pull the world back into balance. Those acts echo into the world. They reverberate long after we are gone. And sometimes? Sometimes they bounce back to us in unexpected ways.
I’ve been writing for years and it’s only in the last year that I’ve let myself feel bad about what I write. Well, not about what I write exactly. I write about my life. I write funny stories that I hope make people smile. I write books that I hope make others laugh loudly and inappropriately in airplanes. I write honestly about difficult things I’m haunted with, like depression or self-harm. And occasionally I veer off into strange waters where I don’t quite know if I’m the best person to say something, but I know that I’m the best person to say the things that I think. You sometimes get small glimpses of those things but in such light amounts you could be forgiven for missing them. If you look closely you probably know that I’m a feminist. That I’m a big supporter of gay rights. That I don’t believe in church but do believe in God. That I believe racism is institutional and exists far deeper than we see. That I don’t deal well with authority. That I have eternal hope in goodness. That I am quick to anger and quicker to forgive and that I don’t believe in picking sides because the world is flexible and moving and ever changing. The only side I pick is the one with less assholes, but even that is fluid because people change. Sometimes the assholes are later the people who have come so far, and who we revere for their ability to change. Sometimes we find that our heroes were undercover assholes, hiding amongst us until they let down their guard. Sometimes the assholes are us. In fact, if you aren’t prepared to recognize that occasionally you will look back at your life and think, “Wow. That was a real dick move. What the shit, me?” then you are the most dangerous of all the assholes.
This is a long post but in my defense I’ve been very quiet for the last week while I sorted this out. I do have a point and I’m coming to it.
In the time I’ve been writing I’ve had thousands of people send me emails or links or tweets asking if I would weigh in on something, or support their cause, or ask everyone I know to donate to their personal fund or charity. I’ve read other blog posts by friends who tell me if I don’t write about their personal beliefs then it means I don’t care. Then I remind myself that if someone would potentially not know where I stand if I’m not screaming it on my blog then perhaps they aren’t as good a friend as I thought. I’m asked to stand up for people being bullied. I’m asked to stand up for the other people who are being censored and being called bullies. I hear:
“How can you not go to our Gay Pride parade when you yourself are bisexual?”
“Today is International Suicide Awareness day. Why aren’t you promoting it? Don’t you care?”
“You’ve spent time in wheelchairs and hospital beds from your autoimmune disease so why aren’t you promoting our walkathon for chronic pain awareness?”
“If you don’t publicly take a stand against racism on every platform you have then you are a racist.”
“If you don’t write about 9/11 every year the terrorist win”.
“If you don’t write a post explaining that most Muslims are peaceful and lovely then their blood will be on your hands if they are killed.”
“If you don’t write about my personal version Jesus Christ then you’re sentencing your readers to everlasting hell.”
“If you don’t promote my kickstarter about my journey to adopt 56 Chinese orphans then all orange kittens will spontaneously lose all their legs.”
These are all real things said to me in the last year, except for the last one which I suspect is probably just stuck in my spam filter.
Here’s the deal. I just can’t. I can’t use this blog to tell you that testing makeup on animals is bad or that if we don’t reduce our carbon footprint our children will suffer the consequences. I don’t have the stamina or willpower to denounce every shitty thing in the world that I assume everyone else here already agrees with. I don’t have the strength to write about ISIS and kidnappings and poverty and children starving and bombs and other terrible things because I know I will become fixated and depressed and unable to function. I know my limits and I know that without self-care I will fall into those dark holes of depression where I’m no help to anyone.
And I’m okay with that because I don’t have to tell you that Nazis are bad and mass murderers are fuckheads and that racism is bullshit and suicide should be avoided and rape is shitty and water is wet and cats will scratch you if given enough time. This is all common sense. If I have to say this out loud for you to get those things then you are in the wrong place. Mostly because I’m typing and so I can’t say anything out loud, but also because if you know me, you already know these things. We may disagree on the finer points. I may have a looser definition of what it means to be a feminist. I’m in the middle ground when it comes to gun control so if I ever decide I’m educated enough to have a salient point of view worth sharing out loud we may disagree. I suspect I view racism as being more of a problem than the average American (or average white Southerner at least) and occasionally I’ll say something about it and lose followers…both those who are angry that I believe racism is systemic and deep-seated, and those who agree but who are mad that I don’t say even more. And that’s okay. Sometimes they come back, later, with open minds and less fear or anger. Sometimes they are replaced by others who are here to laugh and smile at the ridiculousness that comes out of my head. Sometimes (mostly) it’s read and then forgotten. Just one tiny voice in a world that won’t shut up. In a world so busy speaking that it can’t hear.
I had a point and I’ve strayed from it a bit but this is it: I appreciate the links and suggestions and tweets and probably half the time my posts come from something one of you has sent me because you know me and you know what fuels me. I read what you’ve sent me and laugh or cry or learn. Sometimes I write about it. Sometimes I keep it for myself. Sometimes there isn’t a better way to say it so I’ll just retweet it, or forward it to others who I think might need it or be inspired to write more about it. But I will never tell those people that it is their responsibility to write about what I want to read. And that is the difference.
Please keep sending me links. Tweet things you think I’ll want to see. Email me your thoughts, or posts. Or share them here. But there are two things you should know: One– I almost never share fundraisers because if I do one then a million people will ask why I don’t share their equally valid fundraiser and then I’d suddenly turn from a writer to a very annoying PR person who only tweets fundraisers. No one wants that. And two: I will never write about something because someone else is trying to shame me into it. I have plenty of my own shame and guilt over here myself, thankyouverymuch, so I don’t need you dropping yours on me. Not only is it shitty, but it also makes me question everyone else writing about whatever that current event of the week actually thinks, and that’s not fair to anyone. Are they just writing what they think people want to hear? Are they pandering because it’s fucking easy as hell to say “I’M NOT FOR MURDERING GAY PEOPLE” and “CANCER IS NOT WHAT I LIKE”. Not only that, but if you aren’t saying something thought-worthy then you are adding to the roar that is the world and while it’s a wonderful thing to have the nation rise up as a whole against bullshit, it sometimes has the unintended action of making it that much harder for people who DO have brilliant and amazing things to say to be heard. People have a limited attention span and if they spend their lunch hour picking through posts that say nothing new or personal because they are written solely out of fear of missing out on the topic du jour are going to miss the chance to read the people out there who have something unique and intriguing and personal and brilliant to say. Those posts that make you say, “YES. FUCKING EXACTLY. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY BUT I COULDNT FIND THE WORDS FOR IT.” They are the posts that make you say, “Oh. Oh, shit. I get it. I get it now and I didn’t before and now everything has changed.” The posts that are so beautifully written that you immediately link to them on the Facebook disagreement you were having with your great aunt Agnes and she reads it and says, “Hmm. Well I never thought about it that way. I guess I’ll have to think about it.”
Those brilliant posts exist. I hope I’ve written a few. Probably not nearly as many as I’d like but I’m limited in my areas of expertise. I get humor because that’s how I survive. I get family because I’ve been blessed to have a dysfunctionally functional group of people who challenge me and make me laugh. I get mental illness because I survive it. I fight it as a regular demon and I haven’t a choice but to become a savvy warrior because that’s how you live. We don’t always get to choose our causes. Sometimes our causes choose us.
There is another thing I write about on the regular and that is kindness. Because we can’t live without it. Because it keeps us afloat. Because it keeps us worthy of survival as a species. Because it helps me forgive people who demand that I use my voice for their words because if I don’t it means I’m unworthy or low or their enemy. Because it helps me remember that that kind of anger comes from pain or fear or desperation that no one should have to feel. And because that same kindness is what I depend on and hope for from them when they read this.
This is my house. You are welcome here. You are wanted. You are allowed to leave links of posts or articles you think this community would say “Oh, I needed that” to. You are welcome to talk and visit and make friends and to realize that each of us is flawed and human and (in the grand scheme of things) knows nothing. Because I’ve come to know that the only thing I really know is we could all do with a little more kindness. Both in giving and getting.
Be kind to one another. And more importantly, be kind to yourself. You deserve it.
PS. This post scares me a little to post because I know a thousand of you will think “Shit. She’s talking about me” but I can assure you that 127 different people have asked me to share their stuff within just the last 24 hours (not an exaggeration) so I’m really not paying attention to names, and also there is a tremendous difference between suggesting that I write about something and demanding I write about something. Still, I feel a bit bitchy, because in a way I realize I’m sort of saying, “Stop demanding that I join you in your brave and valiant crusade, you well-meaning and good people with absolutely wonderful causes which I wholeheartedly agree with you on” and that’s not what I want to say at all, but it’s the closest thing I can say other than this: I can’t always sing your song with you. I listen. I share. I think. But if I’m always singing everyone else’s song then there’s no room for mine. I have a song to sing. A terrible one about why Jesus is a zombie and the time I found a severed boobie on my lawn. A song about horrible things and about wonderful things and mostly silly things that make the day a bit brighter for those twisted enough to appreciate it, or those offended enough to be able to use it as a terrible example to others. A song that sometimes is out of tune and seldom rhymes and is sung loudly in the dark and in whispers when I’m not quite myself. A song that sometimes overlaps with yours as we find ourselves unexpectedly sharing a chorus we never knew we had in common. A song that sometimes captures minds and hearts and changes the world in good and bad ways…but most importantly, a song that is uniquely mine. One that’s given silence to reflect and write, and information to grow, and that changes as I change. It’s the same song you sing. But different. And all of those songs are beautiful…even the discordant ones of our enemies that inspire us to work harder to prove them wrong in hopes that one day they’ll find themselves accidentally humming a strange tune they’ve picked up along the way…a tune of joy and kindness and love and equality and acceptance. Or at least something by Prince. That man is a bad-ass.
PPS. It occurs to me that I talked about those posts and stories and essays and books that make us yell “YES! THIS EXACTLY” and that those lovely things are the things that it would be nicest to hear over the roar of kleenex advertisements and selfies, so I’m going to share a few of the ones that hit me personally because maybe you need to see them too. And maybe in the comments you can share your own. A book, a song, a post, a quote that makes you strong or anything that makes the world a better place…anything that you keep coming back to as a reminder that you’re not alone or as an anthem to keep you going when it’s hardest. Share your song. Because I want to hear it. And maybe, one day, we’ll find ourselves singing along together and you will know it’s because I am with you wholeheartedly, and not just because it’s the easiest thing to sing.
Okay, here are a few posts that stick with me:
This one is fairly recent but I used it so often recently when in discussions with people who didn’t understand why what Rachel Dolezal did is not okay and why it has nothing to do with Caitlyn Jenner ~ From Awesomely Luvvie: About Rachel Dolezal the Undercover Sista and Performing Blackness
Someone sent me this years ago and it stays with me every day. I even stop people in the middle of my next book to tell them to read this first: From Christine Miserandino: The Spoon Theory
Which of you sent me this originally? I don’t know but when I read it I screamed “YES! YES, THIS!” Boggle the Owl on surviving depression. Boggle the Owl on Anxiety.
Okay. Your turn. Share. Give me something you think needs to be heard. Something that breeds kindness and makes the world a better place. Sing your song. We’re listening.
Brava, beautiful! xoxo
brilliant.
I love your writing. That is all. 🙂
There is a Nigerian prince who desperately needs your help to recover his billions of dollars.
Promoting kindness covers a lot of issues. You are awesome.
Lovely post. It’s hard to remember some times that we all need to sing our own song, thanks for the reminder.
This is beautiful. I hope this doesn’t come across as anything other than the sincerity with which its meant…but my whole blog is my song. After years of an unhappy marriage I was brave enough to leave, and I’ve been rediscovering all kinds of wonderful things as a result. Especially sexuality. And I never imagined there was such an amazing community here to help me on my way. It’s been a beautiful and cathartic thing.
Thank you for saying this. I love your writing and I hate how our discourse has turned into “Reblog if you’re not a horrible person.” I don’t reblog those either. John Scalzi put it well “I am not your rage monkey.”
And speaking of John, this piece of his really helped me understand my privilege as a straight white middle-class female: http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/05/15/straight-white-male-the-lowest-difficulty-setting-there-is/
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that this is a community. We should talk to one another about what we are passionate about, and you’ve given us a space to do that. It’s not your responsibility to act as our voice– we have a voice! It’s right here in the comment space.
In other news….So, remember that time that Tara the Tabby Cat stopped her person (a 6 year old boy) from being attacked by a dog? The SPCA of LA gave her the Hero Dog Award for 2015. http://www.today.com/pets/hero-cat-tara-gets-spcalas-33rd-annual-hero-dog-award-t27826
What love.
YES YES YES!
At some point people need to understand that guilt is not a good way to persuade people, only to make them avoid you. These “if,then” ultimatums aren’t helping.
You’re awesome and amazing. Love and stuff. All around.
Well said, Jenny.
That is all.
****“YES. FUCKING EXACTLY. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY BUT I COULDNT FIND THE WORDS FOR IT.” “Oh. Oh, shit. I get it. I get it now and I didn’t before and now everything has changed.”****
This is the reason one writes, darling. THIS. YEsssssssS. This kind of response!!
I remember what Oprah said about her school-days. Something like ….I didn’t belong. I was left out. I was unattractive. I was alone……..A teacher walked up to me one day and said, “Honey, you are such a pretty girl. Did you know that?”
Oprah said that simple sentence, these simple words changed her life.
Anyhow, this is what I try to do in my school setting & in my world.
((((( I SEE YOU. I hear you. I understand you. You Matter. YOU MATTER. ))))
This is how we should respond to one another.
Xxx kiss from MN.
“Depression lies.” Those were the two words that brought me to you, believe it or not. And those two words continue to help me.
Also one of my friends says “this is not my mountain to die on”. Meaning it might be someone else’s “big thing”, more than anything else, but it isn’t hers and doesn’t have to be.
I’ve always thought you strike a beautiful balance on writing personal essays, promotion, and activism. Looking forward to the comments on this one 🙂
Fuck those people. Go,you. (And I have it on good authority that no orange kittens will go legless because not everyone supports all the causes in the whole wide world despite being badgered to do so.) Keep being you. Hooray, you
Thank you <3
You tweet, blog, promote what you seem fit. That’s why I love you. Neither of us can carry the hurt of all the world. (though we try to on occasion) It has nothing to do with being a good/bad person and everything to do with having a hard enough time to keep standing already. Love you, stay you.
Sincerest hugs.
Write what you want to write, when you want to write it. For you. Period. You are not only the Bloggess, but a bad-ass.
Whatever it is, I’ll read it. To laugh mostly, to cry sometimes. Because I think you’ve understood the quirks in all of us. (Thanks — now while I still feel weird, I know I’m not the only weirdo).
I think what you are saying here is something we can all relate too. Not the popular blog voice part but the finding your own voice means you can still support other people and causes without being their soldier. This is very smart and still loving. Good on ya Jenny!
All I’ll say is more stories about driving your husband crazy, with giant chickens and the like, you know the ones…where I can hardly get to the end because tears are streaming down my face and I’m laughing so hard I can’t breathe….those stories! And heck if you find a fundraiser that causes the same reaction…go for it!
My hero! ❤️❤️❤️
I’ve done a lot of laughter through tears reading your posts over the years. I’ve learned a lot about depression and how I might be there for my friend, who is clinically depressed. I’ve gotten a lot of enjoyment and found out about some interesting charities, and I truly enjoy the snippets of your life that you choose to share. I just like what you post. Period.
Well said. Opinions are like belly buttons, everyone has one, and mine is not more or less pretty than yours, it just is what I have. And everyone should be ok with that.
I have been reading your blog for about six months now. I love it. A very good friend introduced your blog to me and I am thankful he did. What stuck with me most…..not being able to sing everyone else’s song because it would leave no room for your own song…..this simple line of text will stay with me. Thank you.
Sing it Sista!
The quote that gave me the a-ha moment to live by: Stop planning vacations to escape from your life and start planning a life from which you no longer need to escape.
Your awesomeness overwhelms me at times. Bravo!!
I love this Amanda Palmer article about empathy and love: http://www.newstatesman.com/2015/05/playing-hitler-card
I have nothing to share except to say that I think you’re terrific and you should continue to write only what you want to write, whether it’s about metal chickens or depression or anything else. Other people don’t get to tell you what to write, even if it’s for a good cause. Keep up the good work doing exactly what you’re doing!
Cogent and exactly right.
Yes…a thousand times yes.
My Dad always tells people (both people he knows and random strangers) that they are a good person and they are loved. I can see how maybe some would find it offputting, but I was with him one day at the grocery store when he told the check-out lady she had a kind smile and then said this to her. I watched her pause, think a second, and then smile even bigger. It’s always good for us to say, “Thank you” and open doors for people, and just be kind.
I was going to write a post called “I don’t know” after the thug shot those good people in SC. But I thought it would just add to the noise. I agree with so much of what you wrote. All of what you wrote. We don’t need more screaming. And the world needs a refuge. You are that refuge.
Thank you.
It is YOUR path. You must follow it and not the path others wish for you. Keep writing; I’ll keep listening.
Trying to guild someone into doing something.. Nah.
Your blog, your rules, your way of life. Your voice. Which I love reading. People who are trying to pressure me into their way of thinking.. not so much.
So keep it up please <3
Thank you, Jenny. And btw, your song is at the top of my playlist. Please keep singing!
My Al-Anon group calls me the ‘Queen of Boundaries’… sometimes this is a tough world for those of who need others and institutions to have boundaries. I applaud you setting one. Thank you.
Great post! If anyone wants to follow this link read the whole thing–it is SATIRE…
https://medium.com/@a_rubin/i-m-a-female-scientist-and-i-agree-with-tim-hunt-8158bb657349
I’m sorry people try to make you feel you don’t do enough. In MY book, you do exactly the right things. You make me laugh, you make me cry, and you make me think. Please stick around and keep doing that? Like you tell those who need to hear it, you are loved and needed. 🙂
Well, If I’m being quite honest (and not particularly specific), that thing for me is YOU. When I stumbled across your blog a couple years ago I knew that I had found something that I didn’t even know I was looking for. I absolutely adore every bit of your writing, and am always disappointed when I check your site and there are no new posts! I introduce you and your first book to anyone who will listen or who I think might enjoy it the way I did. The first time I read it I literally laughed so hard that I cried, and then cried because I could feel your pain. Then I did the same thing the second time I read it. And the third. You get the point.
Either way, you are such a bright spot in my life. You make me smile, you make me think- You make me feel like I’m not such a weirdo. You make me feel celebrated and special instead of judged and isolated. And you have this immense talent of articulating things in a way I could never hope to convey myself. So please, keep singing your song. It’s beautiful, and so many of us love to hear it!
You’re seriously one of my favorite people on the planet. And that’s saying something, because I have a friend named Rainbow. So… Yeah. Ponder on that one. Wink
I love your work Jenny Lawson. You’re seriously the shit. Thanks for being you and not apologizing for it. <3
THANK YOU for this. I love your house..and it IS your house.
I love you. You sing my song. Thank you.
Never feel bad about what you do or don’t write…those who are REALLY your fans will support you regardless. I do something similar with all my friends who work for pampered chef/31/it works/Tupperware/doTerra/etc etc etc…basically any of those stupid pyramid marketing schemes. I don’t buy from anyone, because then I will offend someone. Granted it’s on a vastly smaller scale, but I can totally understand why you just have to say no. Now sometimes, I really want some thing from one of those people, and that’s when I message and ask to get added to a party. That’s like the one time you choose to write about the things that are important to you. Please keep saying yes to the things you need or want to say yes to, and don’t feel bad about saying no.
I have been reading and following you for a while. Funny and Kind are two of the things that always come to mind when I think of you. We all need to set boundaries and you are right for doing that. It does not make you any less kind or funny. It makes you human.
I think you have very kind eyes, and you have made me laugh, LOUDLY, at totally inappropriate times and you make me feel less alone as an anxious, depressed feminist Texan. I think you have a lovely soul. I see a lot of what you’re talking about on Tumblr: If you don’t reblog this, I’m unfollowing you because obviously you are a racist, misogynist Nazi. And now I don’t want to reblog that post because it’s mean and manipulative, and there’s enough of that in the world. Sometimes, i just need kitten gifs and shirtless Jason Momoa rock climbing gifs because I work at a newspaper and I see the bad parts of the world all day every day.
Sorry for getting a little ranty there. You know what’s awesome? Gifs of Jason Momoa rock climbing while shirtless. Gentleman Jack. Freshly applied hair color. Twirling.
Due to what I’ve read on your blog, I’ve tried to give a compliment daily to a stranger. It seemed hard at first, but with practice, has become as easy and beautiful as making that first cup of coffee in the morning.
Thank you.
Uhm, I have nothing to share, I just want to say I agree with your stance. You’ve done a great deal of work for me and I think I’ve gotten to a much better place (mentally, professionally and even apartment-wise) thanks to your posts (and comenters) who helped me understood my problems. Because what I’ve read was honest and real.
Love your writing, honest, humor and bravery. Keep it up.
None of us can do everything. But, if each of us does something, it’ll all get done. Keep doing your-something – you’re good at it, and a lot of us appreciate it.
I come here and read, follow you on social media, and buy your book(s) because I value your honesty. You’re honest about who you are and what you face, whether the majority sees it as positive or negative. I read your things because after all these years I’ve found someone I can relate to and isn’t afraid to talk about their own diseases or ailments. You’ve given me strength to start speaking up about my own demons, to almost embrace them, and not let them have complete control all the time anymore. When I first read Let’s Pretend This Never Happened I was sitting in line for a midnight release of a movie and my laugh echoed through the empty mall I got weird looks and stares, but I didn’t care.
If I were to come here or be bombarded with retweets of fundraisers, other people’s work, “take action on this RIGHT NOW!’ types of things I’d find it less enjoyable. I can find those things on my own. Goodness, there’s no lack of those types of things elsewhere. I come to you to escape my day for a few minutes. To remember I’m not alone. To be reminded that depression lies. I use your blog and posts to help other people, to give them that hope that they’re not alone, to encourage them to get help as well.
Jenny, you’re amazing. Maybe you didn’t set out to change the world. Maybe you did. It works and you care and you’re honest and genuine. Shit. I hope I didn’t put a bunch of pressure on you with that. Basically, you’re awesome and thank you. Thank you for being you. Thank you for being brilliant. Thank you for being honest.
I, a great lover of orange kittens, applaud you. As Mr. Rogers sang: “You are the only one like you. Like you, my friend, I like you.”
I’ve been feeling really frustrated recently with doing little acts of kindness – I feel like I keep giving and giving and not getting anything back, and I know that’s not the point but still! I really appreciate this post though, it makes me feel a bit better about all that’s been going on.
I don’t know if I can upload a pic here, but I saw this really great giant dino statue recently and looking at the picture always cheers me up: https://instagram.com/p/24rNxjtVUz/?taken-by=aestheticsnafu
Also zookeepers recreating Jurrasic World has been amusing me greatly: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/18/zookeepers-jurassic-world-chris-pratt_n_7609964.html
Oh for heaven’s sake. Those people. Sheesh. You just write about what matters to you and forget about promoting stuff unless you really, really, want to, because then it’s signal, not noise.
Here, read this great thing about a group at our university that picks up restaurant waste for compost, turns it into farmed vegetables, and hands the produce out for free. Because what a nice idea they had! http://fhkingstudents.wix.com/fhking#!harvest-handouts/cxro
I just like hearing you. it’s unfair for people to want you to say what they want all the time. if they want it said, then they need to stand up and say it themselves. it’s all very overwhelming and hard to think about. we can’t save everything, or help everyone. we do what we can.
Brava!
I’ve never understood people who think shaming others into supporting their cause is the way to go. We’re supposed to be inspiring change, not bullying it out of people. What good is a reluctant dollar if the stranger you squeezed it from resents you for it and will avoid you and your cause at all costs in the future because they don’t feel like being made out to be a selfish pig for not caring as much as you think they should?
Good works do not flourish when you sow them in a bed of negativity. Be kind, be respectful, and be hopeful, and the support will come.
You are awesome. <3 That is all.
How do I make the biggest heart ever when the internet doesn’t quite understand that you need a monospace font to create ASCII art?
You inspire me, Jenny Lawson. You give me hope in humanity when humanity tries to kick my hope until it bleeds. Thank you for being exactly who you are. Thank you for saying exactly what you say… in such a beautiful way. <3 (Just imagine that the little heart is about a hundred times bigger.)
This must have been a hard post for you to write because it probably felt confrontational toward people you don’t want to hurt. But I think you stated your case fairly and well, and I think this is important for many to read. From the reader side this is such an intimate medium that it’s hard not to feel an exaggerated connection with you than actually exists and it’s easy for people to overstep their bounds. Perspective is good.
I don’t have a link to share, but I would suggest watching Going to the Store on YouTube if you need to laugh. My kids and I pull that up every time we need the world to be a little more weird.
I get it, on a much, MUCH smaller scale. I have chronic pain (RSD) which is hell to live with. I have a large family. We homeschool.
And I get demands from folks to write MORE about those things. Or budgeting. Or to promote x, y, z. And I don’t. Because I write what I write, b/c that’s where I’m at at that moment.
I can’t be all things to all people, nobody can. Not even you. What we can do, what we MUST do, is to be true to ourselves. If we get caught up in what everyone else wants, we lose sight of us. We get buried under the avalanche of demands, and suffocate. Our own unique lights go out.
Do what you do, what is authentic to you. That’s what makes you, you. That’s why people, including myself, follow your blog, read your words, and are touched by what you share.
Because it’s authentically you. Not b/c someone else made a demand.
This is why I enjoy your writing so much. I stumbled upon you from your first book actually. It had me in tears for all the right reasons. Since then, I’ve joined the blogging world myself and while I am a pebble in a vast ocean (that makes you the giant island I sometimes bump up against), I can recognize how hard it must be to be that giant island. Everyone thinks it must be fantastic to be seen and heard by everyone, but sometimes, being a little pebble is enough. I still get to make a ripple.
Thanks for being brave!
~Mommy Catharsis
I cried after I read this post (but in a good way) Most of the time when I read your blog I just laugh. I will make an extra effort to be more kind. You express your thoughts very beautifully. It is a privilege to read your writings Thank you.
Please keep doing what you do best; we love you for it and it has made our lives so much better. I can still laugh at your book and posts even when I am in a really bad way. Also, one of my hubbies favororite sayings is “guilt is for suckers.” I do my best to reject any attempt to “guilt” me by bouncing it back onto the attempted guilt flinger. (sometimes it works…)
This: “In a world so busy speaking that it can’t hear.”
I like you more and more with each article. This was so very well stated. This is YOUR website. And I’m so grateful you are YOU because I enjoy reading what you write (and not what others bully you into writing).
Rock on, Bloggess.
Never worry that a post will upset someone. If they read you they know you and know how you are. No one should be shamed to write about a charity, a movement, a political view, etcetera.
If you have to explain, then they aren’t your circle.
I suffer autoimmune much the same as RA. That is what drew me to you and now you are my friend. Thank you for being you.
Helen Keller’s, “Three Days to See,” came into my life by happenstance when I was at one of the lowest points I had ever been.
I found it online here: http://www.afb.org/info/about-us/helen-keller/letters/on-the-senses/three-days-to-see-as-published-in-atlantic-monthly-january-1933/12345
And thank you Jenny for, “Pretend You’re Good At It,” and, “Depression Lies.” These have become mantras for me and are invaluable words that help me get through my days.
“I don’t have the strength to write about ISIS and kidnappings and poverty and children starving and bombs and other terrible things because I know I will become fixated and depressed and unable to function. I know my limits and I know that without self-care I will fall into those dark holes of depression where I’m no help to anyone.”
I’m going through that now, actually. I’ve been caring so much about so many things, and so many terrible things are happening, that I’m completely overwhelmed. I’ve instituted a “no news” week for myself, just to give myself a breather from all of it.
I wholeheartedly support you on this!!! Well said, well meant and, for me, well received!!!!
This woman: https://twitter.com/carlylomas
She changed my life. Utterly, profoundly, irrevocably, and all other synonyms therein.
I’m a nurse because of her. I’m an author because of her. I have become a hospice nurse because of her.
“The sonnet, the song, the book you were going to write, the portrait you were going to paint, the loved one you were going to apologize to, the thesis you were going to spin, the garden you were going to plant:
Do these things, live fully,
And know that it is possible to face your death with grace.”
I so love the song you need to sing. Thank you for being you. You’re amazing.
I love the way you give us your thoughts. Like perfect little gifts. Thank you.
I wrote a post in early May (I have a humorous, I hope, blog) about (some) Rednecks in the south that make our region (specifically my state of Alabama) look like beau-hunk hicks from the sticks. No one had much to say about it then. I posted a link to it again on my Facebook page like an hour ago saying “I wrote a post last month saying “enough with the Rebel flag already!”” And I have been flooded (on my FB page…why, oh why can’t I get comments on my blog?) with people saying everything from “You might as well spit on my great grandfather’s grave!” and “Flags don’t kill people!” and “Oh yeah, I bet you just want to burn the American Flag!”
So, yeah, I get some of what you’re saying.
Here’s the post in question: http://psb1969.blogspot.com/2015/05/jacked-up.html
Your blog is yours, not theirs.
If you want a great thing to read, Anne Rice’s facebook page is a place of beauty and discussion of writing, books, religion, politics, gay rights, art, archaeology, cats, and great TV. She interacts genuinely with her fans and it’s an amazing thing to see. There is space for legitimate conversation but never for hate. Also worth reading is her assistant Becket’s page, who also happens to be a diehard Whovian and former monk. Seriously.
Here is my favorite “YES THIS” article, by the incomparable Linda Holmes
http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2014/01/13/262076085/chris-christie-and-pulling-the-red-handle
My husband is starting a crowdfunding campaign on June 6th. It’s about fishing. PLEASE don’t publicize it or contribute to it because if it works I will never see him again due to FISHING. I beg you.
You are awesome!
i haven’t been able to sing my song in so very long but that’s okay because i can come here and hum along.
You have been such an inspiration to me, thank you.
” I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.”
Agatha Christie
you’re wonderful. no shame, girlfriend. do your thing. 🙂
So well said. There needs to he room for the lighthearted and funny otherwise things get too heavy and the weight can make you care less which the opposite of what everyone is trying to accomplish.
I just had this issue with someone ranting on my facebook page that I was wrong to advocate for kindness instead of screaming until everyone agreed with me. I had to let her go. Boundaries are good, thank you for having them, and thank you for letting us visit your wonderful house.
OMG. How is it you always know exactly how to say things? I agree with you wholeheartedly. There are so many worthy things to talk about or donate to or give your time to and you just can’t do it all. It is absolutely self-care to say ‘no’ sometimes. Maybe a lot of the time, depending.
You are awesome. And you’re right about needing kindness.
Beautifully written. In particular, I wanted to shout YES at this one: “I know my limits and I know that without self-care I will fall into those dark holes of depression where I’m no help to anyone.” Thank you for sharing.
THIS>>>>”Here’s the deal. I just can’t. I can’t use this blog to tell you that testing makeup on animals is bad or that if we don’t reduce our carbon footprint our children will suffer the consequences. I don’t have the stamina or willpower to denounce every shitty thing in the world that I assume everyone else here already agrees with. I don’t have the strength to write about ISIS and kidnappings and poverty and children starving and bombs and other terrible things because I know I will become fixated and depressed and unable to function. I know my limits and I know that without self-care I will fall into those dark holes of depression where I’m no help to anyone.”
When does a “discussion to raise awareness” turn into a “bullying diatribe designed to dehumanize and shame people”?
There is only so much of me to go around and I am already like a vase that’s been broken and glued back together. I can withstand a lot, but the failure, when it inevitably occurs, will be catastrophic.
I wrote a blog post called “The Answer to Bullying” on my Bipolar Me blog. I thought it needed saying. Maybe others will too. https://bipolarjan.wordpress.com/2015/06/14/the-answer-to-bullying/
amen amen amen sister!
Just keep the kindness coming <3
My song is to scare the crap out of people. It’s taken a lifetime to just accept that, as I’ve always felt guilty about what I do (and thus leaving far too many stories unfinished). This is my first ebook:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y3PUVKM?ie=UTF8&at=aw-iphone-pc-us-20&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links
I come to your site to escape, so frankly I’m glad you posted this. I suffer from chronic illness. I’m reading “support this” and “support that” pages all day long. They are wonderful and certainly have their place in the world, but so do awesome sauce hilarious websites that make you tinkle just a little when you read them 😉 Cheers to you being YOU!
Yes yes yes yessity yessy yes! Sharing and asking (kindly) is one thing. Demands and threats are another. Your space, you get to control it. Fuck those who disagree.
I appreciate you and your voice. Thank you. You keep doing you, left shark.
Also, in case anyone needs it today: a livestream of rescue kittens playing: http://livestream.com/tinykittens/eve
You rolled your ball of twine perfectly, Jenny. Now go play with your coworkers.
“In this vale of tears we take what we’re sent, feathery, leathery, lovely or bent.”
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/364190.Pish_Posh_Said_Hieronymus_Bosch
BRAVE.
I don’t have much to add, other than thank you. I will also gladly offer hugs.
Boggle makes me cry every single time I read any of it, and it’s usually a combination of happy and “how do they know me so well?” tears. Spoons are also almost an every day thing.
Much love.
Amen and amen.
Jenny, you know what I think you do really well here? You. That’s it. You in a nutshell. (Not to downplay the effort it took for you to get into a nutshell). This is your space, your voice, and you share it with countless strangers. That takes a lot of, well, nuts. I wish I could do it. i’m working on it, but I’m just not there yet.
The minute your space becomes someone else’s voice, its no longer yours. So bravo to you for speaking out. I wish you didn’t have to say it. I wish other people hadn’t shamed you into believing that you needed to speak for them, at all times. Been a fan for awhile, admittedly not from the beginning, but I don’t recall any time you actively said you were here to be a leader, or to change the world. I don’t know that you’d put all of that on your back. Especially seeing how you are still in a nutshell and all.
You have one responsibility here (as I see it). To be honest to you. No one else. You may not have promised to be a leader, or to save the entire race of pygmy giraffes in Madagascar, but you have inspired many people, myself included. Putting a label, condition, or responsibility on someone else is not a sign that that person needs to do more. It’s a sign that the person giving the order likely needs to look within, and see why they are pointing fingers.
You are you. You are Jenny Lawson. You are admirably good at being you, and you need be nothing more. Now let’s get you out of that nutshell…
Well said!! You get to have boundaries and all that healthy shit!
Exact. As usual you hit the nail on the head. Shamepushing sucks no matter how great the cause. Peace & love to you.
Wishing you deep, deep peace. A friend said that to me when my mom passed away last year and it has stuck with me. It seems like the kindest thing you can say in so many situations. Wishing it for you and me and everyone.
Jenny, you are awesome. You are the one I often turn to when I find myself in a hole. Never stop being you. 🙂
I LOVE what you have written here. You should not be expected to validate everyone who comes screaming at you. That is what bothers me so much about the world we live in. It is LOUD, like you said, and EVERYONE is screaming constantly for affirmation and validation and somehow, it has become “if you don’t agree with me on everything I say and feel and want, then you are against me” and that is just not fair and not true. No one has the energy, ability, or desire to validate literally everyone, even those people and causes we agree with and are willing to support in some ways. Its exhausting. People need to grow the fuck up and learn to stop demanding constant validation from everyone around them. Just my thoughts after reading this amazing post. Thank you for the reminders in here.
Beautifully written! And thanks for reposting the Spoon Theory link – I was telling a friend with newly chronic pain about it as she was making a difficult decision to cut back on her job in order to heal, so now I’ve sent it on to her.
Fantastic post. If people feel so strongly about a cause, they can create their own blog and write about it. You are your own voice and yours alone. If we don’t like what we see, well…there’s a huge internet out there. You owe readers of your site nothing, except maybe the occasional dead animal in a pantsuit.
Well done Jenny. well done. xo
A poem that helps me deal with fear and anxiety: The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171140
I remember when I was in college going with my dad to his brother’s house. While there, his brother started making these horrific comments. Who knows if it was towards gay people or about an ethnic group. He’s like equal opportunity asshole. My dad looked at me amused as he could see that I was about ready to explode. At one point, I walked out of his house. Later, Dad asked me why I didn’t let him have it – he was waiting for me to take his brother down. “It’s his house – he gets to say whatever he wants regardless of how much I don’t like it – or want to physically smack across the head when he does say it. Most I can do is walk out – I won’t disrespect his space.” I guess I view blogs the same way. It’s your space – your house. While people can walk by and comment on the color and the grass being too tall or try to sell you Amway (do they still sell amway?), it doesn’t mean you have to respond or buy or anything. And that’s an ok response. Hugs to you! Keep doing your thing – it’s why I come by your house to visit.
I’m sad that others are making you feel like you need t defend yourself but happy to see that you are strong and doing what you believe will do the greatest good! Something happy to share. I am a Kindergarten ESL teacher and work in a high poverty school with abysmal test scores, etc. I LOVE my students and wouldn’t trade the job for all the tea in China. I am always disheartened to see how much they “lose,” in terms of academic progress,over the summer. This year, I had a project funded on Donors Choose and it has allowed me to put together 95 “backpacks” (sling bags) FILLED with printable books. Even better, I was able to provide somewhat tailored books, based on reading levels, so that the kids are taking books that they can actually read! It was an amazing feeling to see their faces light up when they got those backpacks. Just wanted to share this act of kindness (at the risk of seeming like bragging) because it was an amazing experience that I will never forget. I even have enough materials left over to do the same thing for next year. Wahoo!
Well stated, and not offensive in the slightest. For what it’s worth… my .02…..❤️
I just want to say that I’m so happy and proud to belong to this tribe.
The only responsibility you have is to yourself, not to any cause or campaign or Kickstart er program. Your honesty and vulnerability have deeply touched me. Your writing has made me laugh til I cried. You are better than any anti-depressant. You go girl!
Sometimes I think about this, too.
I don’t have the broad audience that leads to these kinds of requests (or any requests, really), but I do notice when other bloggers on their blogs/twitters/facebooks take up a major holiday or a huge disaster, and devote to it a blogpost or other such thing.
Other than seeing the same subject come up multiple times in a feed (which actually sucks if you’re trying to get AWAY from it), I didn’t really notice it was all intentional until I came across a blogpost which started with a disclaimer: “People were wondering why I wasn’t talking about [this horrible event that happened in my country], so here is my belated address…”
And then I suddenly wondered if people came to my blog/twitter/youtube/whatever, expecting another nod to Subjet Du Jour, finding nothing, and thus silently judging me as a non-caring person.
I still don’t talk about current events that have nothing to do with me. I don’t spread awareness. I don’t do Challenges. I don’t actively celebrate most holidays. I don’t feel the need to personally apologize for every terrorist attack, murder or natural disaster. I don’t “share” manipulative facebook posts.
I assume that’s not what people come to me for, and I refuse to feel bad about that. I even refuse to feel bad about leaving this long-ass post yakking about MYSELF.
(Which is kind of amazing considering my debilitating Guilt Complex)
Wow…it feels like I should be taking you more seriously than I do if I’m supposed to make you my personal crusader. I just love reading your stuff because you make me laugh. Really, really a lot!
I think we all know you are awesome but I wanted to throw it out there anyways. Continue on being your awesome self!
I love you. It would be exhausting doing nothing but being angry and sad about everything that’s wrong. You keep doing what you do.
<3 a fellow bisexual feminist who doesn’t go to pride parades either because I hate crowds and noise
I love you. Not in the stalkerish scary way (probably), but in the your blog posts and books always make me laugh/snot-cry/think, often in the same paragraph (which does tend to get awkward on planes), and I adore you for it!
Keep doing what you do!
Amen.
You’re fabulous.
Yes to all of this.
This is your house, and saying so doesn’t mean you don’t care. Good for you for speaking up!
Brava! I’ve taken this stance on my own FB feed, and have been unfriending and hiding posts from those who do the very same thing you are speaking about. Many times, it’s just the post that gets removed, because the person’s heart is in the right place, but I’m either not interested in the debate, have heard it before, or find it somehow inappropriate for me (nudity and unnecessarily rude language). So my feed is mostly you, and cats. 🙂
You’ve said it all so much better than I ever could. I hear you. I see you. I honor you. Thank you for being willing to speak up and say what many of us, for so many reasons, cannot.
I love what you write and who you are. You are a brave and fearless person who allows all of us to share your life — warts and all. That to me is incredible. Just keep doing what you’re doing.
Boundaries are good. Setting them for yourself and others is actually hard and an amazing thing when done right. Do not feel bad for drawing a line, setting a boundary for those who have stepped over yours – intentionally or not. Those who did it by accident will go ‘oh shit, sorry – have a cookie!’ and those who did it on purpose will flail, whine, argue…and leave. Good riddance. Keep being you Ma’am – and we will keep respecting your limits if we love you. <3 And most of us do. 🙂
“This is the way the world goes. Small, mean acts affect the next person who in turn amplify that anger or sadness and take it out on others who suffer as well. Then small, kind acts of grace work their magic and pull the world back into balance. Those acts echo into the world. They reverberate long after we are gone. And sometimes? Sometimes they bounce back to us in unexpected ways.” That just made my day. We’re all flawed, scarred creatures – and I’m glad your voice is out here.
(And yes, Ashley – above – that is a super sweet story. I actually used to work for spcaLA, and know the story well. Definitely a lovely way to remember that we’re not the only ones here who put more goodness out into the world 🙂 )
I actually stopped blogging (it was a paying gig and I was pretty sad to stop) because I was limited by my contract on what I could write about and how I could write. AND, the entire almost-three-years I wrote that blog I got regular comments (usually from my closest friends) telling me I shouldn’t limit my blog posts to “such frivolous stuff” when “there are real problems in the world” and I was wasting a platform I had. sigh Thank you for this post.
I love your cause and your books and your blog. “Let’s Pretend…” changed my life. It helped me realize I needed meds for anxiety/depression. Is that weird?
I think Sarah McLachlan has the “help the poor kitties” covered. So that’s one area you don’t have to worry about.
OMG I can’t believe you didn’t list MY unreasonable request that you write about the plight of left-handed polydactyl gerbils. It’s like you WANT them to suffer!
But isn’t it cool that people view you as powerful & necessary to make their cause/point/fundraiser happen?! I appreciate you as a writer who brings me joy, laughter @ inappropriate times, and a peak at quirky & unusual things in the world. Thank you for being The Bloggess.
Wow, is your psyche healthy today! It took me decades to realize not only CAN I NOT be all things to all people, I DON’T want to be all things to all people. There is so much this world needs that it is great the people care and want to help and get others to join, but there is so much and my resources, even those that don’t require money, are finite. Sometimes the best I can do to help the world is try my best not to become one of the many burdens on the world. Keep myself, happy, healthy and financially responsible. Help my family achieve all of these. Some days, getting out of bed and going through my day day dreaming of getting back at those who have hurt me is the best I can do. But again, at least I did not become the burden others have to rally to help. If all of us were able to do the small gestures, the larger ones might become less needed.
Hurrah for people rallying others to causes, but they themselves also can’t be a part of all causes.
More power to you and here is a virtual hug for feeling you had to have this conversation.
I think this is maybe on of Ken’s best, which he published knowing that Assholes on the Internet would make hay out of it and use it against him…
“Happy to Be Here” – http://popehat.com/2015/05/21/happy-to-be-here/
Excellent post. Thank you for sharing that with us.
To quote Dory from Finding Nemo, “Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming!”
You do you, Jenny! We’ll keep coming back, no worries!
Wow. I thought these furry orange things were tribbles, but it turns out they’re legless kittens and now I know JUST EXACTLY WHOSE FAULT THAT IS. You still rock.
Yes, I totally agree! I live in a community of activists (at least the virtual community that I’ve created for myself, if not the physical community). I get the same thing. I reply that I only have so much energy to deal with things that are upsetting. I can’t follow every news story closely enough to make everyone happy. Sometimes I have to take a break from it all and post nothing but cute animal pictures and fart jokes for 48 hours. And it’s ok. Folks that don’t like it aren’t really my friends. They don’t know me and don’t have my best interests at heart. And there too much difficulty in this world to surround myself with people who don’t support me.
You can’t be everything to everybody. I work as a writer too and recognize that there are loads of writers out there who are more knowledgeable about these weighty topics and do a far better job than I ever could in writing about them. Nobody goes into the local Italian restaurant and starts yelling at people there that they really ought to write about genocide. There is value, plenty of value, in simply making people laugh, or stop and think, or reflect. And there are so, so many worthy causes and fundraisers…you’ve got what people see as a ‘bully pulpit’ but it isn’t right for people to browbeat you into using it on their behalf and then shaming you. Heck…when I started in the kid-lit field, and proudly presented the first issue of a magazine in which I had articles to a friend, she handed it back in disgust and asked why there wasn’t anything on child poverty in it.
I vaguely recall a sci-fi story…was it Ray Bradbury? –a short story in which there’s an alien whose face can take on the qualities of any loved one you’re thinking about, or something like that–and when people find out, they surround the alien–all shouting and pleading with it–and it tries desperately to oblige, shape shifting like mad, but then it dies, because it can’t possibly please them all, it gets overwhelmed. Anyway, that image springs to mind upon reading this…well, I hope the rest of your week is kind to you 🙂
Keep sharing YOUR song, Jenny. We’re listening 🙂
I’m a little sad that you feel like you need to apologize for writing about what you want to write about. I’ve pointed so many people in your direction who struggle with depression. The Spoon Theory is BRILLIANT and it makes me happy that you know about it. I don’t think you can even fathom how many lives you’ve touched in the very best possible way.
You don’t owe us anything. That you come here and write about whatever you do is a huge gift and I’m sorry that people are douchecanoes who don’t understand that this is your platform to write about what you want, when you want.
Keep doing what you do. I’ll keep reading and I’m sure others will, too. Much love.
Never thought about people demanding you write about certain topics. Just have enjoyed the blogs, tweets and book(s). Hugs and thanks for sharing this. Also, I am glad you are you and that you share you time/talent/insights with us.
Just taking a moment to send you an enormous HUG and sisterly SMOOCH on the cheek – and now I’ll go sing off-key with my kiddo who is NOT killing sheep in Minecraft, but shearing their wool instead because the payoff is way better. Hope H is having a wonderful summer and dancing and singing off-key with you.
YES YES YES!!! I want to throw my arms around you and tell you how awesome this post is and just in general how wonderful you are. YOU really are a gift to the world. Thank you for sharing yourself – even when it’s hard or scary. XO
YES. THIS EXACTLY.
I’ve always thought that blogging was meant as an outlet for the writer, to express their own thoughts and beliefs… not the reader. And if people happen to agree with them, then great! And if not? Oh well, move on.
This keeps me going:
Some People by Charles Bukowski
some people never go crazy.
me, sometimes I’ll lie down behid the couch
for 3 or 4 days.
they’ll find me there.
it’s Cherub, they’ll say, and
they pour wine down my throat
rub my chest
sprinkle me with oils.
then, I’ll rise with a roar,
rant, rage —
curse them and the universe
as I send them scattering over the
lawn.
I’ll feel much better,
sit down to toast and eggs,
hum a little tune,
suddenly become as loveable as a
pink
overfed whale.
some people never go crazy.
what truly horrible lives
they must lead.
It’s weird to me that anyone would shame you for not using YOUR blog for THEIR issue. If it’s that important to them, write your own damn blog. People are cray cray yo
This post definitely strikes a chord. I’m going to keep this statement in my heart: “I can’t always sing your song with you. I listen. I share. I think. But if I’m always singing everyone else’s song then there’s no room for mine. I have a song to sing.”
To me, that means to care for others, but you also need to care for yourself.
Big hug and smooch on the cheek. I love when you post because it helps m,e step away from all the noise on my Facebook wall, those things that make me think “I must share this so people KNOW!” So many times I get so wound up in these things I get myself into a dark whole of despair…and you and this blog have pulled me out of that hole many a time. Knowing your limits and setting boundaries: a good thing. And KINDNESS. What we need most of all.
Beautiful “If I’m always singing your song, then there’s no room for mine”.
There are so many organizations I want to help. So many things, I want to grab people by their shirts and say LISTEN TO THIS. This one? This one speaks to me the way nothing else ever has, and I want to find a way to do this here.
http://www.thepongofund.org/2015/06/22/you-cant-pawn-hope/
I care about people’s rights and I care about the environment and I care about poverty. But the small thing I do best is make people laugh. That’s the best contribution I can make. That’s your best contribution too, Jenny. It counts.
One of the hardest and most freeing things I learned to do I is set my oun boundaries. There are those who insist you live your live for them or be shamed or guilted until you do. Your life is your own to do as you honestly feel is best. Awesome freedom, awesome responsibility! No one else can be you or me and the world is a poorer place when we act to be otherwise…
This, this is what has touched me so much that I must share! http://thebloggess.com/2015/06/this-is-my-house/
You know what? There is enough noise and voices singing about ISIS and all the bad things going on in the world. Yes, it’s important but so is the other stuff. The funny, the mundane, the stuff that we think but no one else has the (lady) balls to say. Keep saying that stuff. Your house, your rules, period.
Thank you for being you.
APPLAUSE APPLAUSE APPLAUSE!!!!! Kindness is the watchword!
I feel for the people demanding, they fear their story won’t be heard unless someone else tells it. But that doesn’t mean you should cave, cater or pander. Your story is beautiful and necessary, keep telling it and share others as you see fit. I tell my story, not a lot of people read it, but I’m working on that. Much as I would love a Blogess shoutout, it would only mean something to me if you truly Believed it would be of value to your people.
It must be very hard to deal with the demands. You handle it with grace.
Awesome post. You write what you like. Don’t ever change.
You and Allie Brosh are who I turn to when I’m dealing with my anxiety/depression. Please never stop writing about the things you write about.
You can write whatever the hell you want! It’s YOUR blog. My MIL once told me I should stop writing about our financial struggles years ago because it wasn’t fun to read and people might not like my blog. And I thought, people READ my blog? HA! I write what’s in my heart. I have exactly 34 followers on my actual blog and a few more when I share on FB. If people want to read what I write, awesome. If not, that’s ok, too. If you start writing what everyone else wants to hear then you’re not writing from your heart and I believe that’s what a blog is for. You just keep doing what you do because you are obviously doing something right!
Hmm, something that needs to be heard, something that breeds kindness. That’s YOU. I was reading your beliefs and just wanted to cry, to hug you, to be your best best best friend because I know everyone tells you this in this wonderful group of people that gather around you, but I feel exactly the same way. Delving into all of the horrible stuff in the world makes me obsess and picture the pain and terror and then I dip and dive into depression. My twitter profile says in part, “people helping people and everyone gets along in my mind.” That’s how I wish it could be. Ugh! You’re so spot on I can’t even. I love your soul.
Okay, this post is you and this is why we love you. Let’s talk about what makes my world a better place: The one thing that consistently puts a smile on my face when I am having a bad day…or any day. One thing that makes me jump up and down at corny flea markets and chuckle so loud people stare at me. One thing I can revisit over and over and it never, ever gets old…METAL CHICKEN!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/dont-carpe-diem_b_1206346.html This is a post that really resonates with me. I re-read it every few months to remind myself that everything is fine.
Anything you want to write is what I want to read.
Also, the Good News Network is my happy place. All good news, all the time.
Oh, my dear friend (who doesn’t even know me), how could you possibly worry that what you’ve just shared was vitchy or out of line? It was spot on. And you are lovely to share not only your jokes and he,or, but also your struggles and deep observations. Thank you for what you do, and please keep doing what authentically and delightfully you. The world desperately needs what you generously offer.
Amen. That’s all. Just amen.
I desperately want to say something witty and clever, but I got nothing, so I’ll just leave that this is going to make a whole lot of writers say YES YES YES THANK YOU YES. I’m sending this to some of them now.
People expect you to be an opinion leader because they see your reach is far greater than theirs. However, this is your platform after all and yes! we people with depression sometimes feel like the whole world is on our shoulders and we’re more sensitive when we hear/read bad news (I could cry all day if I click all the links in my newsfeed that are about mistreating animals).
For me, your writing gives me hope that there’s a light at the end of this tunnel and there’s a future with me in it in which I do what you do (that is writing and making people happy because of it).
I have this quote from Dostoyevsky that I love:
“Where is it I’ve read that someone condemned to death says or thinks, an hour before his death, that if he had to live on some high rock, on such a narrow ledge that he’d only room to stand, and the ocean, everlasting darkness, everlasting solitude, everlasting tempest around him, if he had to remain standing on a square yard of space all his life, a thousand years, eternity, it were better to live so than to die at once. Only to live, to live and live! Life, whatever it may be!”
I know that it must be incredibly stressful to be saying no to people all of the time. If you can, try to remember that the reason that they are all asking is because you are amazing and you have the power to touch so many people with your awesomeness. And then say your “no” with a smile on your face, knowing that you are a light in the darkness for so many.
I’m going to put a load on your shoulders.
You inspire the fuck out of me. I want to be like you. I’m already a goofy dork, I’m already full of wicked humor, I’m already damaged, I’m already living with mental illness, but I haven’t had the courage to use my voice.
You give me that courage. Thank you.
This post is solid gold, standing ovation stuff. Sing your song, sister, sing on!!!
Much love and respect for you, Jenny. Always.
Those of us who work in animal rescue know that “compassion fatigue” is a real thing.
That you have to husband your resources because if you wear yourself out you will be no good to anyone.
That sometimes you have to take a break and refill the well.
That if you spend all your time dwelling on the ones you can’t save, you won’t be able to save anyone.
You have every right to set your boundaries where you need to.
This is lovely and brave, just like you.
“I can’t always sing your song with you.” Those words allowed me to finally exhale. As someone who battles the depression demons daily, I needed to hear those words. I am one of those “overly-sensitive” people who feels so very deeply, and is deeply affected by the feelings of those around me. When you hurt, I hurt. And most of the time I will be the first person to extend my hand out to you to bring you out the deep waters you are drowning in….but, sometimes, the abyss I am drowning in is so deep, that I just can’t. Sometimes, I too have to practice self-care, for my own preservation. That does not mean I am a shitty friend or wife or mother or daughter or co-worker or human being. It just means that I cannot pour out from my cup of kindness if my own cup is empty. Jenny Lawson, I am so incredibly grateful for you. You are one of the only people in this entire world that understands, that truly gets it. We have never met, but, thank you for helping me persevere and be a lifeboat to the people in my life who sometimes need to be saved too.
And for the record, “Depression Lies” has saved my life, literally, saved my life, many times. Your words have given me light when all I could see or feel was darkness. Thank you.
I love you for all you do and say. But today, I love you most for this post! THANK YOU!
Honesltly, Jenny? I LIKE that you don’t constantly post about fundraisers and awareness raisers and all those kinds of things. Like, I know that you’re against rape and murder and racism and being mean to baby otters. But I don’t want to read you being against them all day every day. If you occasionally want to write about those things then that’s cool! But really…..I come here to read about giant metal chickens and zombies. Keep doing you, lady. Because you’re awesome.
My older sister is a 1970s feminist … I am the baby girl who benefitted, able to go to a college that she was turned away from because it was all-male. I have a quiet attitude of “do what you want and don’t keep others from doing what they want” and enjoy hanging laundry and, well, this is for her: http://standardissuemagazine.com/lifestyle/feel-the-fear-and-tidy-it-anyway/
I read ya loud and clear. Your voice brings insight and inspiration along with laughter and happiness. Do what you can when you can with what you have and never compromise your morals and values… We can’t be amazing 24/7 but we can be true and kind to ourselves and others. In life I take my favorite trainers motto seriously- do your best and forget the rest!
Holy shit, the spoon theory. Although I am lucky to have more spoons than some, this explains my daily life wonderfully and somewhat sadly.
Here’s what I’d like to share with you, and I don’t care if you put it on the blog, never read it, or print it out 1000 times and send it to Wil Wheaton to collate. Whatever. I’ve been going through a really rough time lately. No reason why. Nothing bad is happening. I was just depressed, sad, and felt like I wasn’t coping, felt like I was spiralling slowly downwards into a dark, dark pit. What did I say to myself every day to get through it? Depression lies. I read that here, for the first time many years ago, and many times since, and it has stuck with me like an STD I actually want. It’s infectious, and powerful, and just the best. You save people every day. You don’t need to share links, or spout other people’s stories, you’re just you, telling us funny, quirky lovely stories, being you, and you are (am I allowed to swear?), well, amazing.
WOW! I love your writing. It’s got it all – heart, humor, with a healthy dose of cursing. I just wrote a piece about trying not to care what other people think, and it is obvious in your relatable, honest way that is what you are struggling with too. Here is a link I read yesterday that helped me feel a bit braver: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/04/she-was-done/
You are wonderful and brave for saying all of this, and you have an awesome song to sing! Whenever I need a break from shittiness, I head over here for a laugh. And that’s a real kindness. And I think people are far more likely to be swayed by humour than righteousness. I don’t feel like I ever need more bad news, and I already support causes that are important to me. The world is a loud place, and your powerful voice makes you a target — tune out those naysayers and just keep singing!
That explains why my orange kitty keeps scooting his ass across the carpet. Thanks bitch.
Your writing makes me happier, stronger, and feel less alone. It has been one of the many things to help my 18 year old feel braver and stronger in her own fight with anxiety. Thank you for all the times you’ve made me laugh out loud or nod my head in agreement. You rock
Jon Katz, who is a well known author, among many things, writes on his blog (“Bedlam Farm”) here and there the phrase “My life is not an argument.”. This simple phrase has carried me through many the caution tape of many criticisms by people who may not understand choices I’m making. I’ll add, he writes of being told by people what to write, that his blog is a monologue, not a dialogue. It’s his song. This is your song. You do you, Jenny.
🙂
Well said.
You are a brave, beautiful, writer woman. I appreciate your honest and authentic written word. Keep swimming.
Thank you for Boggle the Owl. I cried when I saw the one about anxiety. I appreciate this community.
Love this!
This is your blog. You write for you. If we enjoy it, good on us. If we don’t, we are dumb asses. You are an inspiration in more ways than one.
I will share our family mantra. My husband adopted and revised an old joke told to him by a friend….it really sums up life in a nutshell:
Fuck all but 6.
You need them to carry the casket.
Unless you are cremated. In which case you only need one with a good arm.
We shortened it to, “All but 6.”
You’re welcome 😉
That is all.
Carry on.
I agree completely-I have a little blog, a little Facebook page and a very tiny Twitter. Most of the time I stick to my bees, the books I read, my family and things that strike me as funny because that’s what I know and love. I leave the rest of the stuff to others. Well said and thank you!
Jenny, I just think you’re the best. This post is beautiful, and I thank you for making my afternoon. My favorite line: “We don’t always get to choose our causes. Sometimes our causes choose us.” I didn’t know years ago that I would become a fervent supporter of gay rights – but when your son comes out to you, priorities change quickly…..
Hugs and love to you.
I have a song. It has complicated lyrics and sounds like the most absurd and unbelievable song ever produced. My cat had to be put to sleep on my birthday. She was one cool cat. Totally shitty. I’m also in the middle of moving our family from one city to another where we don’t know a soul. Stressful and lonely. Then add a dash of “whoops” from the vet that lost my cat’s remains. I’m still crying. This all sucks. So where’s the kindness in all this? I rescued a kitten from a shelter that was going to euthanize him because they had no room for all the baby kitties. This has all happened in the last 2 weeks. So go rescue kittens. They make the world suck less and he’s inspired me to fire up my blog again.
Jenny Lawson for President.
the last time i checked this is your blog where u write what is on your mind and we, as readers, can either read it or move on. at least that is how i view blogs…i may not be able to relate to you on all of your topics but you are a pretty darn good writer. i keep reading in the event i learn something about me or the people around me. keep doing you and I will keep reading!
Oh Thank GOD you are not here only to repost everyone else’s requests! Each of us needs to make our voices heard about what matters to us! I come to your site, because I want to smile, and laugh, and sometimes cry a bit, but most of all, not to feel like I’m the only strange weirdo in this world! I can go onto a million other sites when I want to read about how we need to band together to solve “……insert problem of the world du’jour….”.
Keep speaking to us in your voice. It’s why we’re here and why we love you, and why we keep coming back.
Every time I write something I think is brilliant and get almost no response, and every time I get a huge (for me) response to something I barely thought twice about writing, I realize that I have no idea what’s going to get up in people’s craws, in a good or bad way. It’s amazingly freeing to not have to give a shit about what people think because there’s nothing I can do about it anyway. Writing is the only area of my life that lets me feel that way. In everything else I’m pretty much a basket case. But I’m working on it.
Oh my bloggess, YES! Not much turns me off faster than the “repost this or you hate kittens” posts. Gah! You are my shero, Thank you for your voice and your words and your pain and joy and weirdness. I use the Spoon Theory all the time. I use it so much that I forget that it is not normal jargon and one time I said at a family function that I was out of spoons and my old Aunt said, “you can get them at the Goodwill, 4 for a dollar.” I also use your “depression lies” line. A lot. Like it makes me sad how often I mention it to help people and they didn’t already know. And Allie Brosh’s Adventures in Depression helped me trememdously as well. Keep telling your truth, I am listening.
OK, so this isn’t a post, it’s a class. But I didn’t make it and I’m not affiliated with it. I’m half way through taking it and it’s fucking amazing and is changing my life and I think everyone should listen to it. And if you do a quick google search for “Udemy coupons” you can get it for cheaper than the listed price, because there are always coupons.
Your comment about shame is what triggered “I should share this!”
https://www.udemy.com/the-power-of-vulnerability/#/
What speaks to me and says, “Yes! Yes, this!”? Your blog (and you). Your humor, your fight against mental health challenges, your insights into the world and society and its people. I don’t want you to say anything that isn’t yours, and I thank you for standing your ground. And, it’s really none of my business what you choose to write about. I am a guest in your house and I don’t have the right to rearrange your furniture. Thank you, Jenny, for being exactly who you are.
Yes, this! 1000 times this!
Why on earth should you HAVE to write about anything? do they understand this is YOUR blog and YOUR safe place? you can write about my fundraiser that is going to help zombie kitties find new homes with brains avil nonstop for snacking or not. I come here because you are me, you’re my red dress and i am your 12 you know the things my brain can’t express about but you can. i love you and yet we have never met. If you saw me somewhere you would not know me but yet you get me. thanks for not being a pr stunt, thanks for being you – wife,mother,survivor of lifes shitty stuff and not being afraid to share.
Well said. And it’s one of the main reasons that I comment here but don’t ask you to endorse my adoption website/blog. There are so many couples waiting to adopt…why should you endorse us? And so, I respect your space and leave my internet breadcrumbs in your comments. 🙂
I met you once and I hope to see you again on your book tour.
I worked a an online store that sold cancer awareness merchandise (I won’t specify which one) and it was a very small, family owned business & they really did give back to the community locally & the cause in general as best they could & still support themselves. We often got requests for specific donations. We helped the ones we could, but it was impossible to give to them all. So hard choices were made, criteria established…must benefit the specific cancer type, verified organization, etc. we had a very polite letter we responded with if we’re not donating. But still, we regularly got nasty replies that we were horrible, no good, rotten people.
You do your best. You live according to your morals & remember, they don’t know your heart. And most of them obviously don’t care to bother with what it takes to do so.
Carry on and be confident in yourself. Your husband & daughter know you best & they think you’re awesome. The rest of us don’t really matter in your grand scheme of things.
Couldn’t have said it better myself! (Actually, I never can, which is why I read your stuff instead) I come to this blog to revel in our collective weirdness, to uplift people when they need to be uplifted, and to laugh–and I’m never disappointed. I would be profoundly disappointed if this blog turned into a soapbox for all things that other people may want it to be.
Rather than post a link to a serious blog about current events, I’m going to post an uplifting ad of women of all sizes working out and being healthy. As someone who struggles with weight, it made me smile (and pushed me to do more squats than I was supposed to do during class). I hope it makes other people smile, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN7lt0CYwHg
Thank you for being so awesome. Thank you for putting into words what I can’t always say some days, and thank you for making me take a look at my reactions to the news lately, I need to take a step back. Thank you for just being you. You my friend are pretty amazing.
you found a BOOBIE on your LAWN?!?!?!?!?
Also, love ya. Mean it. You do good work.
So much love for this. This blog is one of the places I go to escape all the voices telling my why I should be angry or fearful, why it is irresponsible to be happy or seek happiness when is going on in the world. Thank you for your song – it truly makes my world a better place to inhabit.
Thank you, Jenny. Your honesty and wonderful sense of humor always help to put things into perspective for me. I rarely post anything in the comments and I have never felt the need to ask or guilt you into endorsing anything for me, but I can see how others may rally for your support. For me, it is hard to find like-minded people in the world and online. When I do, it is almost like a delicious secret I don’t want to share with others right way. However, I have followed you for years and have gradually told my few friends how wonderful you truly are. And secretly, I have also been reading Brittany Gibbon’s blog for years, so I will share a recent blog she posted that meant alot to me concerning lessons on learning to love yourself. Enjoy! http://brittanyherself.com/2015/06/23/fat-girl-job-clarification/.
It makes me sad, that you needed to write this. You give us so much of your truest, wittiest, soulful self. No more could or should be asked of you. I’m just grateful that you do this. Really, really grateful. Here is a bit of what’s on my mind.
Thank you for sharing your perspective. As always, it was something I, too, wished I could’ve said. So I’ll just share yours.
What I did write was this: https://www.facebook.com/notes/t%C3%A9a-silvestre-godfrey/an-open-letter-to-our-local-state-and-federal-leaders/10152957233618806
And here’s another breadcrumb due to technical issues in my original comment.
Oh, an BTW, I don’t just read and comment to leave breadcrumbs. I think you’re AWESOMESAUCE.
Bravo! I love your song. This one helps me. https://youtu.be/JsZXc937qrY
My mom’s cat’s legs just fell off. BRB going to the cat wagon store.
My song is from Maya
“At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you make them feel”
Thank you for always making me feel the insane range of emotions your posts, tweets, etc create.
Much kindness and love
I just want to say thank you for this, and thank you for you.
And if and when you think you need them. As has been said above, you be you, and that’s all you need to be. You being you is pretty damned wonderful, and it makes me happy to see you (even if only figuratively).
Thank you. I feel like you pulled this directly out of my own head and then put it in logical, beautiful words that I could never properly express on my own! I am from SC and amidst all the horrible events of the past week and the “racial” debates currently circulating I find myself choosing not to comment or express an opinion on social media. Not that I don’t have one. But what you’ve written explains my reasons exactly and until now I didn’t even realize it. Thank you for reminding me I don’t have to feel guilty or cold hearted for not expressing my thoughts on these matters. I would much rather be happy looking at all thefuzzy kitties on the internet than be saddened by all the idiots in the world and lower myself by being a part of the problem and adding to the media frenzy. Not my circus, not my monkeys!
This is the single blog I read. I have a limited attention span so I read one blog. This one.
Why?
Because this is your place and you say whatever you want. I love it. I read it because you speak your mind. It’s usually funny as hell. Sometimes it’s thought provoking, gut wrenching or heart rending. But it’s yours.
I don’t want you to speak for other people. They can speak for themselves. I don’t want you to speak for me, I can speak for myself. I want to hear what you have to say.
You write things that touch people. And you write about giant metal chickens and using them to fucking with your husband and that’s funny. You write about the joy that there is in life, even when life’s being kind of a dick about things again.
You wrote something once. “Depression is a liar.” I’ve mentioned that before. That line, those 4 words are a huge part of why I am alive today because I was suicidal and I saw that and went “well shit, maybe not today then” and found the help I needed.
And you followed my dog on twitter.
If you became a shill for other people’s causes I’d stop reading. Because it wouldn’t be you anymore. I come here for the things YOU have to say. To hear your song.
Sometimes your song makes me want to reach out and hug you but then I remember that would probably freak you out because STRANGER DANGER. But now I go to the store and look for giant metal giraffes because I kind of want one. I don’t know what I’d do with it but something! I would name it Penelope. But I walk by the local zoo and see the giraffes and think of that post kind of a lot.
Please keep telling your story and sing your song. Let other people be responsible for theirs. And if they think you’re a bad person for not telling theirs… well they should look up “bad person” in the mirror.
The things you write about are the right things, because they come from YOU! Amazing, inspiring, hysterical, relate-able, honest YOU. You help so many people by making us laugh and cry (either from laughter or from emotion), and by making us feel like we are understood and not quite so alone. I have been reading your writing for years, and while I do agree with most things you say, there has never been a post that made me say, “I’m done with this.” Which is what I would do, by the way. If I didn’t like what you wrote about, I wouldn’t read it in the first place! So many people seem to be looking for a reason to be unhappy, and as someone who has suffered from depression and anxiety since I was in elementary school (not that I realized what it was at that point), I can’t understand why you would WANT to add more conflict and tension to the world.
Don’t listen to anyone who tells you what you “should” be writing about. Your posts and this community help so many of us, and give us inspiration. I even have a tattoo on my wrist to remind me that “depression lies”, and I will be forever grateful to you for that statement. Thank you, always.
I commend you woman, you are an amazing one. I never thought to ask you to discuss or read into my cause, I guess they are my own and I share them because I want to. I say keep doing what you do, and you know and understand more about what makes you great than I think you realize. Your words keep me smiling, make me laugh, and inform. You are wonderful, and this post truly proves the awesome honesty of you. Thank you for being amazing.
Jenny – you are such a beautiful person, and I love you in a completely-platonic-not-at-all-stalkerish kind of way! Thanks for being a shining star who reminds me that depression lies as I fight the good fight against my major depression which has morphed into bipolar depression.
Keep singing your songs! You have made me laugh and cry and I always keep coming back to your blog for smiles and hope.
Brilliant.
And I’m going to use “cancer is not what I like” every chance I get.
Spoon theory is one of my absolute favorites – it’s such a great explanation for any invisible problem, be it mental illness or chronic pain or whatever else people struggle with that doesn’t include a wheelchair or something easy to see. People NEED you to do, to say, to be present, but that doesn’t mean you have the energy to actually do all of it. Singing all of these songs takes a lot of spoons. I think sometimes people need to realize that their need doesn’t trump the needs of the person they’re demanding things from (even if they’re demanding in the very nicest of ways).
Very well said. This is why we all love you!!!!
I really understand what you mean. I see eye to eye with you about pretty much everything you have shared about your standards and beliefs and the causes that are important to you. What I have found is that the more people demand that I share and talk about these issues, the more overwhelmed I feel and eventually I become apathetic to those issues for a time. I deal with excessive guilt and anxiety over things I cannot control and when that guilt and anxiety complete consumes me, depression soon follows and then I cannot care about anything.
I can only safely acknowledge world issues in my own time, and on my own time. I really believe that discussing them in my home, with my children, is more likely to make a difference in the future than speaking about it on social media to adults who have made up their own minds based on their own life experiences who wont change until they have new life experiences that show them the world in a way they’ve never seen it before.
I started out as a conservative, Mormon who felt very strongly about not allowing gays to marry or adopt. Now I am an agnostic, feminist who supports gay marriage and adoption, amongst many other human rights issues that I sneered at in my old life, because I had life experiences and made unlikely friendships and relationships, professional and personal, that gave new perspectives.
Yup!
Yes! Yes! Yes! This exactly!
<3 you. Always.
… in a non-stalkery, platonic way of course. 🙂
“If you aren’t saying something thought-worthy then you are adding to the roar that is the world”. Yes, a million times, YES!
Thank you for writing this. This is so very frustratingly true.
Thank heaven you said it. I feel like a dick sometimes for not shouting my views from the rooftops, but seriously, I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT BOOKS, OKAY?
Thank you 😊 So, so right on. I love that your writing makes me laugh. It’s what I turn to when I need to get the assholes out of my head. So by just saying NO, you are rescuing me. xo
Thank you for being you, rather than someone else’s parrot. Also, your kindness towards those who lapse in kindness is amazing and inspiring. Remembering that we are all assholes, that there is no them, there is only us, and that sometimes we are not in our best form, makes a lot of the crap in life more understandable, and a bit bearable. Thank you for sharing who you are and helping me find some of the better bits of myself.
Oh, and if you’ve not seen it, “Validation” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao
This. So much this. Also the, something horrible happened in the world today, so you’re an asshat who I’ll unfollow/unfriend/throw elephant poo at, if you mention a TV show or what you ate for lunch. As someone who fights depression and anxiety daily and has an insane amount of stress in my life right now (hello never ending custody battle + shitty ass job) I can’t pay attention to it all. I just physically and emotionally can’t. It’s not that I don’t care about the world, I just don’t have it in me right now to deal. It doesn’t make me a bad person because I talked about a spectacular breakfast I had one day.
You do you, I’ll do me. It’s all okay. The world is filled with crazy and it’s also filled with amazing things. You just have to look a bit harder for the good. Anyway, keep being you. It’s what has kept me reading after all these years.
ps. when in need of awesome, I look at baby goat videos. Baby goats on trampolines. Baby goats in PJ’s. Baby goats are lovely.
All you can be is your best self with your own voice. It’s your house. Run it your own way.
So this song has helped me through many a rough patch in life. Maybe some of you would like it.
It’s funny, because it’s from the Steve Martin movie Leap of Faith, which was sort of a middling movie at best but at least had a good message at the end. Not really a comedy, which is unusual for him. Anyway, it’s a movie about a huckster who goes from town to town staging revivals and basically scams people for money. But the music? Oh, man, the soundtrack is just awesome.
I’m not really a particularly religious person…in fact, about 99% of the time I’m in the agnostic column. But the lyrics to this song speak to me, and the vocal work is just awesome.
Give it a listen and let the message hit you. I get tears in my eyes when I play it sometimes.
Change in my Life by John Pagano: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lip2K4x2Mhg
I demand you talk more about the police talking about blowjobs in my hometown! Bwahahahaha!! What a ridiculous way for us to hit the international news! http://www.buzzfeed.com/laurenstrapagiel/chopper-cop-bjs#.sxJA3A5VMK
It’s what zombie-Jesus wants you to do…
UI come here to read because you make me laugh (and because I somehow feel we were separated at birth when I often come to an anecdote that feels like I could have written it on an experience level if not on a writing skill level). The laughter you give me helps me to forget all the shitty things that happen on almost a daily basis. So I want to thank you for all that stress forgetting laughter. There are times that you have made my day and I highly appreciate them.
This is beautiful.
I don’t have anything to add right now other than:
Thank you for welcoming me into your house. I still love you.
Reblogged this on Properly Ridiculous and commented:
I have been a silent observer/fan/reader of Jenny Lawson for quite some time – and this post is absolutely spot on. If you’ve never heard of The Bloggess herself, or read her words – this is the perfect starting point.
I love it, I love it, I love it.
You cannot speak to everyone but you speak a vast majority of us who need you humor, your truth and your even your dark days. You speak from your heart and no one has the right to tell you what you should believe in or what cause you should promote.
I sing, in the car, when i’m alone, very loud and very off key. But I sing because I like it and it makes me feel good.
I sometimes visualize myself as my Texan great grandmother’s caste-iron skillet. It has a solid non-stick surface built up over numerous years and three generations. When someone tries to attach their guilt to me, I smile and bless their hearts and let that shit slide right off….not my circus…not my monkey. And HELL YES….KINDNESS RULES! Even if they are dicks. Thank you for all the inspiration and laughter!
Thank you for everything you write. Thank you for the funny things that make me laugh out loud when I’m sitting in a pub reading your book by myself and make people look at me worriedly, and thank you for the times when you can’t come up with anything funny and remind me that I’m not alone in being unable to see any good in the world. Thank you for being brave enough to publicize your struggles, because you helped me to be brave enough to ask for help.
Beautifully said. Like every writer – like every =person= – your voice is your own to use as you choose, and you always choose perfectly. Meanwhile, a friend tweeted about this, and it’s amazing. It could change EVERYone’s world.
A bunch of teenagers invented a condom that detects STDs and changes color to show what disease it’s found. The difference this could make is huge, and hearing about it made my day.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarrell/condom-detects-stds?utm_term=.imX6p70xO#.jxmQaP5WX
I don’t know if I was the first person to send you Boggle the Owl, but I know I did tweet the anxiety comic to you some time ago. I’m sure I’m not the only one though, because Boggle the Owl is wonderful and fantastic.
Just like you, and this blog. On days when the anxiety is just too much, I come here for a smile, a laugh, and a reminder that I am not alone. It helps me so much, and I can’t thank you enough for that.
I love you.
I’m sad on your behalf because it’s not fair of people to expect YOU to support every single thing they do. It’s great that they believe their own causes enough to include someone as wonderful as YOU, but it’s horrible and selfish of them to think you should fall all over yourself to help every single person. It’s not you, it’s them and they’re being asshole-ish. Get out of that corner.
Keep being you, Jenny. You’re wonderful.
how does one get your email because I occasionally see cat videos and think Jenny would love that. 2. I’m coming to San Antonio this weekend to visit and pack up my mother to bring her back to AL. Will be there for about 2 weeks. You said we were welcome at your house. What day should I come? 3. If you did write about all the misery in the world, you would lose me faster than you can say “Knock, knock…….” because if I wanted that I would watch the news or read the paper. I read your blog to find the quirky, the kind, the generous, the never give up attitude in the world (kinda like why I follow Humans of New York – and if you don’t – you need too. It’s also wonderful and feel goodish.) Please never change. and thank you for all the quirky, kind, generous and never give up you do. Now off to a massage. Hugs, c
You are my strong place. Your blog is the one I look to for my small pocket of good in the world. You are an amazing person with so much wisdom and truth and humor to share with the world. Thank you. From the bottom, all the way to the top of my heart.
I just really loved your chicken story. It made me laugh until I cried. That is all.
This video makes my heart happy, and I think fits your criteria today. Sean Stephenson “Shake It Off:”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rn6wdPoeS4
Thank you. “YES. FUCKING EXACTLY. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY BUT I COULDNT FIND THE WORDS FOR IT.” It’s amazing how God finds the right people to say things some of us can’t or won’t. Listening with kindness is a message I’ve heard twice today. You and this podcast: http://www.npr.org/2014/12/19/371277215/is-it-enough-to-be-politically-correct. I’m sharing you both on Facebook. You are amazing.
Beautifully written and so right. Keep on doing you, and the people that get it will stick around and the ones that don’t…well, I’m sure they’ll find a place that works for them, and we’ll all be okay in the end.
Amen!
That was beautiful. Last night two teens were given kindness awards at my son’s swim meet. Ben’s Bells, a local nonprofit gives out the awards. Their mission is to spread kindness. So simple and yet so powerful.
I love you. You are amazing. You are not a marketing firm. Boggle the Owl rules.
You are amazing.
You are beautiful.
You are a good person.
Thank you for not beating the drum for every person who asks, no matter how well-meaning. I come here to read you – and it’s so refreshing that you give me you and don’t subject me to somebody else’s mission in life.
Things that help me keep breathing, and sometimes even smile through the hard.
http://mlibbydp.tumblr.com/post/118216792764/thecutestofthecute-axolotl-galaxy
http://mlibbydp.tumblr.com/post/116051734004/richarddoylephotography-how-about-both-yeah
http://mlibbydp.tumblr.com/post/120505364489/expressions-of-nature-by-caamila-l-and-once
I hope they bring happiness, or strength, to those who look at them.
So incredibly awesome! Thank you for using your own voice!!!!!! YESSSS!
“YES. FUCKING EXACTLY. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY BUT I COULDN’T FIND THE WORDS FOR IT.” Which is pretty much what I think every time I read your posts.
As for sharing something of mine, I’ll share a quote that I keep on my phone to remind me during my most anxious, miserable times that I will be okay: “Fear is a superpower.” It’s a line from a recent Doctor Who episode. It sang to me. It was the first time I ever considered that I could look at my fears and anxieties as gifts, rather than curses.
I’m a lurking follower, but I want to tell you I love your song/blog/house and it is beautiful and means so much to me. Last week, there was a lot going on that was shitty in the world/my life, and your post about your coworker replacements gave me joy. If you never wrote another word (which I hope doesn’t happen, but whatever gives you happiness) you would still have enriched my life immeasurably with giant metal chickens as a perspective check. Also yes Boggle the Owl and those posts, and Spoon theory always.
Said here before, I’m sure, but “YES. FUCKING EXACTLY. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY BUT I COULDNT FIND THE WORDS FOR IT.”
Just this: <3
Perfect.
Although Nigerian writer Ben Okri’s essay “While the World Sleeps” was originally written for poets, I believe that it has universal appeal. It gives me goosebumps. Every damn time. An excerpt:
The antagonists of poetry cannot win. The world seems resistant but carries within it for ever the desire to be transformed into something higher. The world may seem unyielding but, like invisible forces in the air, it merely awaits imagination and will to unloosen the magic within itself. The poet is not a creator but an alchemist. Poets are helplessly on the side of the greatest good, the highest causes, the most just future.
The world in which the poet lives does not necessarily yield up the poetic. In the hands of the poet, the world is resistant. It is only with the searching and the moulding that the unyielding world becomes transformed in a new medium of song and metaphor. It is not surprising therefore that poets seem to be set against the world. The poet needs to be up at night, when the world sleeps; needs to be up at dawn, before the world wakes; needs to dwell in odd corners, where Tao is said to reside; needs to exist in dark places, where spiders forge their webs in silence; near the gutters, where the underside of our dreams fester. Poets need to live where others don’t care to look, and they need to do this because if they don’t they can’t sing to us of all the secret and public domains of our lives. They need to be multiple witnesses around the central masquerades of reality in order to convey fully the unimaginable dimensions of the deity’s terrible and enchanting dance.
Poets, be cunning. Learn some of the miracles. Survive. Weave your transformations in your life as well as in your work. Live. Stay alive. Don’t go under, don’t go mad, don’t let them define you, or confine you, or buy your silence. If they do confine you, burst out of their prisons with wilder fatidical songs. Be a counter-antagonist, break their anti-myths. Where the enemies breed destruction, sow seeds of startling light. Keep sowing. Time will reap. Weave your songs by whatever means you can. “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger,” wrote Nietsche. There is no reason why the poet, if possessed of practical intelligence, cannot survive as well as the politician, or the banker. Don’t become a dying breed. Dare to stick around for the hard and beautiful harvest. We need you even as we antagonise you. Remember: it is from the strength of your antagonists that you derive your greater authority. They make it absolutely necessary for you to be more than yourself. Follow Melville’s precept, which he had nailed to his writing desk: “Be true to the dreams of thy youth.” After your untimely and much lamented death, we would shout about how much we miss the uniqueness of your voice, your demanding presence, your duende. Don’t wait till you’re dead to know that in reality the whole of life is on your side.
Poet, be like the tortoise: bear the shell of the world and still manage to sing your transforming dithyrambs woven from our blood, our pain, our loves, our history, our joy. The lonely and inescapable truth simply is that this is the only kingdom you will ever have. This is the home of your song.
And also, I highly recommend Pixel the French bulldog. He has an irrepressible spirit, and is the very definition of dogs annoying cats with friendship.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6qOPmfiMRrzq_VFVzPOn6w
I have never commented here before, but this post finally prompted me to. First off, I say “Bravo.”
Here is my touchstone for joy, love, and the pain that goes with it all. My wonderful big sister died of glioblasatoma multiforme a year and a half ago, only six months after diagnosis.
This is what she posted on her facebook page one week after surgery and diagnosis:
“Maybe it’s time for full disclosure. I had a malignant brain tumor removed last Friday and it seems to have been the plug that blocked my inner extrovert. These are some deep truths that I would like to share:
I have a lifetime of the most remarkable friends that anyone has ever had. They have buoyed me through this with humor, sympathy, and patience.
Life isn’t short, it is as full and as long as the moment. I feel full of hope and joy. We need to stop making time to be mean for any reason. Only connect, only be kind. We can control ourselves, not others, not chance.
For some reason, I keep on turning towards this bizarre face book platform to process my whirring thoughts. Just know that I am not afraid, and that I am thankful for all that life has offered me. And that whatever comes next comes next. And that I have staples in my head, a wonderful husband, happy dogs, a great family. And if I am keeping you thinking my thoughts, let them be my thoughts of joy.”
Oh, hon. I feel you. I work for a nonprofit–a child abuse prevention organization. We don’t investigate cases. We do education, advocacy, etc. in hopes of preventing it before it gets started. People call me frequently, wanting us to take a stand on a particular case–which we simply cannot do, because we don’t comment on cases. They want us to intervene with judges and investigators, and when I tell them we don’t do that, they sometimes go ballistic. “But, but, YOU’RE CALLED PREVENT CHILD ABUSE!!!” Meaning I should do whatever they think that name means to them. It’s hard to say no.
yes. a thousand times YES.
It’s hard to type while giving you a standing ovation, but I’ve managed. Thanks for saying this so eloquently and beautifully. I get “support this” on a daily basis. I’d rather support myself, my family, and all the other people I love.
Tim Minchin’s “My House” reminds me we all have our own unique experience and seems appropriate to post here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5ym1EcV_NY
I had a dream last night about a high school classmate of mine. He and his husband are looking to grow their family through open adoption, and I dreamt that I attended a presentation they were doing about why they will make wonderful parents. I knew when I woke up this morning that I needed to do something to help them, so I want to share their plea for a birth mother to share her heart with them.
So I would like to share their story with your readers, such as a comment can do, and set off into the world a hope that a family can be made. That is a kindness I want out there today.
https://www.facebook.com/dannyandjason?pnref=story
When I am having a bad day, this always lifts me up and reminds me that we are all in this together.
Keep being you, Jenny. You are uniquely beautiful, inside and out. 🙂
Thank you!
Your mind is a beautiful place even though it’s strewn with land mines, don’t ever believe differently. You have brought joy into my life with your absurd and wonderful posts. I can’t get enough! Keep talking I can’t get enough!
You just helped me nail down my tattoo. “Sing YOUR song – Just Be”. I think that says it perfectly. I’ll sing my song, you sing yours, and we’ll make beautiful music because we are who we are. I’m not better than you, and you’re not better than me – we’re equals. We’re amazingly the same, but so extraordinarily different and that’s just how it needs to be.
Thank you for this Jenny. You truly are wonderful.
PS: A few years ago, when I told my Mother-in-Law that I was reading your book she said “I”d like to borrow that! I’ve heard lots of people recommend it!” For awhile (up until today actually) I thought “I can’t let her borrow it! The author talks about dildos!”, but after my MiL said “Titties” the other week, I think she’ll LOVE your book. I guess my point is that you can never really know someone, and your book is for EVERYONE! Especially Mother-in-Laws that say titties! 😀
PPS: Have you seen Kinky Boots the Musical? I think you would like it. Your daughter (I can’t remember how to spell her name) might like it too! 🙂 Also – YAY for Matilda. I cannot stop singing the praises of that musical. Kinky Boots too. Anywhoodle – the Just Be part of the tattoo comes from Kinky Boots.
PPS: You have raised an amazing daughter. We need more amazing people in the world, and you’ve got a good one there!
I think this is perfect. I totally understand what compels people to think, “This person is awesome and does awesome things, so I’ll ask her to support my awesome thing and she’ll totally be down.” However, people forget that 1 request is reasonable but 10,000 requests is overwhelming. You take care of yourself; that’s one thing that will make all of your readers happy (and anyone made unhappy by that can kiss off).
I recently lost my job and someone said, when God closes a door he opens a window. I could not stop chuckling to myself because I was thinking of YOUR post from 2011.
http://thebloggess.com/2011/11/its-like-when-your-parents-get-on-facebook/
It brightened my day again.
-deb
This has been the hardest lesson I ever had to learn. I don’t have the masses to listen to me or hear my song or share or demand of me, however just learning to hear myself above all the negative voices around me has been vastly freeing. I can only hope that people understand this from you as well.
I love you, God bless you, and you just…just…keep writing how YOU
WRITE! You have a BRILLIANT, STRIDENT voice. I am
I am a LONGTIME fan. I think you’re amazing, & the only
Scary thing about your blog is that folks ACTUALLY SAID
THOSE THINGS TO YOU. The end.
You are amazing. Please don’t change,
Meredith Silverman
Stay strong and true to you- it’s all anyone can ever ask of you!
You write,”…the time I found a severed boobie on my lawn” and provide no link? That’s just mean. 😉
Thanks for inviting me into your house. I come here because I appreciate your unique point of view; your humor; and your humanity. This is a post I’ll remember.
Also, as others have mentioned, “depression lies” is what really helps me. Sometimes I have to chant it in my head over and over, but it does help.
One of the many things I love about you is that I know I came come to your site and smile. Even when you are serious, it feels hopeful and real. You are a bright spot in my day – even when you say you don’t feel very shiny. Please don’t ever change and know that there are a lot us out here who love you.
You’ve said it before and you will say it again- depression lies. That little phrase has gotten me and my daughter through some rough times(and will get us through more- no doubt). Thank you for singing your song. You are amazing.
Excellent post! You shouldn’t even have to say this – this should go without saying. Your blog, your words, your prerogative to do what you want to do…say what you want to say. I find peace, community, hope when I come here and that is what I look forward to when I visit. Thank you for being you!
I’ve shared it before but I’ll share it again. Riley is adorable and became viral when she had a Youtube video about Marketing to girls and about superheroes and the color pink and it was all kinds of adorable and was even remixed and I know it so well I could sing it for you if you asked or even if you didn’t. Anyway… her parents posted a video of her doing that sort of free form talking that tiny kids do. The beginning is about food and her pronunciations and facial expressions are so cute that it can cheer just about anyone up. Her statement at about 1:55 is just so sweet and…. Gah. I love this child. https://youtu.be/gqHRGOuv53Y (Riley on marketing – https://youtu.be/-CU040Hqbas The remix – https://youtu.be/mqrgKwCotqM)
Stay strong & true to you- that’s all anyone should ever want from you!
Hear, hear. And also here: aka the thing I keep going back to that I find very moving. Perhaps you’ve already read or seen it since I think it’s well known. David Foster Wallace’s commencement address at Kenyon College. http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~drkelly/DFWKenyonAddress2005.pdf
You nailed it and beautifully…keep singing your song and may we all share a chorus someday:)
Thank you, so much, for singing your song. For building this house, and for writing these books. I’m just one person, but your words have helped me through some of my worst days. I have some of your blog posts bookmarked for when I’m not myself and need to be reminded that it’s okay, that I’ll come back, and that I’m still worth caring about.
Anyway. Now that I’m all weepy, I thought I’d share this. It’s a blog I’ve never heard of, but it made its way to my eyeballs and I thought the shirt was cute, so I bought one. Then I actually read the post, and it seems like the guy who designed it is just trying to do some good and help people who need helping, and I wish I could buy eighty more of these shirts. Plus, kitties.
http://stufffromthestall.blogspot.com/2015/05/place-cat-here.html
PS: Spoon Theory is perhaps the single most helpful thing I’ve ever come across when trying to explain daily life inside my head to people who mean well but just don’t get it. I want to print it out and hand it to strangers on the street. Thank you for sharing.
This link.
http://thebloggess.com/2011/06/and-thats-why-you-should-learn-to-pick-your-battles/
This is the one that got me up out of the bed on the days when I just couldn’t do it on my own. It’s the one I send to friends when they can’t get out bed.
Ooooh, multiple youtube links send you to moderation. I feel kinda special.
Thank you for sharing this. I have so many emotions about this same thing, always struggling to find the balance and sorting out how I want to show my support and love in so many areas. It’s wonderful to know I’m not the only one. Keep singing your song. It’s an inspiration for us to sing out own <3
Jenny, you are amazing and brave and inspiring and I thank you for the laughs and kind reminders and all you do to impact your world, and ours. This quote was a YES moment for me:
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall.
Brilliant and spot on. Thank you
I don’t have a link or anything to share. But I will say that you typing “Sing your song” has caused that Carpenters’ song “Sing a Song” to be stuck in my head…probably for at least the rest of the day, or maybe the whole week. Thanks a lot!
Also: MY HEART CRIES FOR THE LEGLESS ORANGE KITTENS!
I love this! I think that setting boundaries can be scary sometimes, yet you articulated yours beautifully. I also want to thank you for the story of Beyoncé and picking battles. I was in tears laughing the first time I read it. I immediately tried to read it out loud to my fiancé, but he ended up just reading it himself because I was still laughing way too hard to be coherent. About a week later I found a 2 foot tall version of Beyoncé the chicken at Ross. I named her Lil’ Kim, and we hide her in random places around the house to mess with each other. Thank you for sharing your stories and thoughts.
Bravo!
Thank you, so much, for singing your song. For building this house, and for writing these books. I’m just one person, but your words have helped me through some of my worst days. I have some of your blog posts bookmarked for when I’m not myself and need to be reminded that it’s okay, that I’ll come back, and that I’m still worth caring about.
Anyway. Now that I’m all weepy, I thought I’d share this. It’s a blog I’ve never heard of, but it made its way to my eyeballs and I thought the shirt was cute, so I bought one. Then I actually read the post, and it seems like the guy who designed it is just trying to do some good and help people who need helping, and I wish I could buy eighty more of these shirts. Plus, kitties.
http://stufffromthestall.blogspot.com/2015/05/place-cat-here.html
PS: Spoon Theory is perhaps the single most helpful thing I’ve ever come across when trying to explain daily life inside my head to people who mean well but just don’t get it. I want to print it out and hand it to strangers on the street. Thank you for sharing.
PPPS: I love this quote “We’re all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” ~Oscar Wilde
Also – “You can’t take the sky from me” from Firefly, and “I have loved the stars to fondly to be fearful of the night” ~Sarah Williams (often mis-labeled as being from Galileo.)
Brilliant. You can’t please everyone, and you can’t support every cause, openly. And that’s okay. You are but a person, trying to do the best you can. You’re also not alone. Taylor Swift stood up for the small artists in her industry, but now people want to her to revolutionize, well, everything. There is no winning, so don’t beat yourself up. People will always hate something and with the internet, it’s easy to share that. Personally, I fully support hating assholes. Just keep being a fucking awesome person, you beautiful cinnamon roll.
I love you.
I have this quote from Dean Koontz posted in all my offices, framed on my bedroom wall, and stuck to the dash of my car: “Each smallest act of kindness, reverberates across great distances and spans of time –affecting lives unknown to the one who’s generous spirit, was the source of this good echo. Because kindness is passed on and grows each time it’s passed until a simple courtesy becomes an act of selfless courage, years later, and far away.”
You BE you. Don’t sweat those other people. Buy this and sew it on your favorite jammies – I seriously salute you, HMFIC!!! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J4MQ0GI/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2PDZ0CPI4C3WK
Brilliant. You can’t please everyone, and you can’t support every cause, openly. And that’s okay. You are but a person, trying to do the best you can. You’re also not alone. Taylor Swift stood up for the small artists in her industry, but now people want to her to revolutionize, well, everything. There is no winning, so don’t beat yourself up. People will always hate something and with the internet, it’s easy to share that. Personally, I fully support hating assholes. Just keep being a fucking awesome person, you beautiful cinnamon roll.
WOW! I have no stories to share or causes to claim. I rarely read long articles or long posts. But you hit the nail on the head. I try not to make statements descrying this or that practice, people, thought, or event. I try to be level. If I am presented with something horrible, or something I disagree with, I step back, know where I stand, and try to live by my example. I know this is a weird comment, but my political, religious, racial, gender, stance is my business. I vote with my feet and at the polls, but I don’t shout from rooftops that everyone needs to agree with me.
Now I feel silly.
Part of living a public life – and yes, publishing anything is a public life, even if you get to do it in your underwear – is setting boundaries. And this you have done. You were doing it all along, and now you are publicly sharing your boundaries. Kudos. And keep on rocking on!
I went to a Catholic college and we were required to take two religion courses. I ended up taking religions of the world and something I learned in that class about Buddhist philosophy has stuck with me ever since. One of the cores of Buddhist teaching is that all of life is suffering, which at first thought sounds like a pretty shitty deal and probably not true because I’ve had really happy moments in my life, but my professor went on to explain that the cause of the suffering in life is attachment. Attachment to an idea, a feeling, a person… in one example it was literally and figuratively a limb. When we want or lose the tangible or intangible items that we are attached to, we suffer. It struck a chord with me because of a loss I was dealing with at the time, and helped me to understand that if I just let go of the attachment, I could stop feeling so shitty about it. Moving forward the idea has helped me live in the moment and helped me to deal with stresses in a more product way.
Thanks for your post! I enjoy reading them.
I have been wondering where you have been. I figured something was weighing on you and as a white southerner…I totally get it.
Literally, I have a song lyrics that always sticks with me…and its from South Pacific, which normally when I say that…most people are like wtf.
“You’ve got to have a dream, because if you don’t have a dream…how you gonna have a dream come true?”
When the dark clouds spill over me, I usually start singing this.
You write you, honey. That’s all we want, because that is absolutely enough.
This is one of my favorite things on the Internet and I hope it is there forever. A blog post from a girl who was pen pals with John Hughes, written shortly after he passed away. Love, love, love.
http://wellknowwhenwegetthere.blogspot.com/2009/08/sincerely-john-hughes.html
The only two blogs I read are yours and momastery. She had a post a while back in support of same sex marriage. She talked about kindness and “grace anarchy”. I love your writing and I’m sorry there are people who make you feel shitty.
First off let me thank you for opening the doors of your house and letting us all in. ‘Beyoncé’ may have brought me to you a few years ago but I come back over and over because of YOU and want to read what is coming out of your head – I don’t want to read what other people want you to say and think!!! Let them find their own platform.
Thank you also for the link to Boggle the Owl on Anxiety it explains my life very clearly.
Let’s all do a random act of kindness everyday!
Well said. As always.
Is it possible to love someone you have never met? After this I can wholeheartedly say, yes. You’re the leader of the misfits and the people that often feel as though we don’t have a voice. Today, I was reminded that we do. I was reminded that my voice is unique and beautiful and is worthy of being shared with the world. I love you. We all love you. Thank you for loving us back.
You found a severed boobie on your lawn?! Wow. Did I miss a post on that? At any rate, thank-you for writing this. The best thing I ever learned from therapy is that your (mine, yours, ours) feelings are totally valid. Write/share what speaks to you – nobody has the right to shame or guilt or bully you into posting anything else.
One of my favorites: “Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you.”
Jenny Lawson for President!
And thanks for letting me come into your house.
https://tenacityandwanderlust.wordpress.com/
Your’s is the only blog I read, because you speak to me. You are a sister from another mister even though you don’t know me and I doubt we’ll ever meet. And I’m ok with that. Just knowing there’s SOMEONE out there that looks at the world the same way I do….that’s enough for me.
I have two songs I’m currently singing. I volunteer for an organization that provides service dogs to Veterans with PTSD….free of charge. http://puppyjakefoundation.org/
I also am trying to make the world a better place through our food system. (Factory farms are bad mmmmmkay?) http://www.gofundme.com/pasturepigproject
What I can give you is this post you just wrote. Wonderfully, beautifully said.
Slow clap. You’re awesome. If I were to add something to the pile of things that help make the world a better place, it would be anything by Dallas Clayton. (www.dallasclayton.com)
BRILLIANT!!! Anyone who demands that someone else be the voice…why aren’t THEY the voice. If they feel that passionately, let them fight! Yell from the rooftops, make the calls, write the letters, carry the signs, donate the money, and make NOISE. If you’re feel strongly about something be the voice yourself, and you’ll gather people along the way with the attraction of your message, not with the demanding others be your voice. Be the reason some company, some politician, some hateful shitty organization has to take an extra drink tonight.
hugs You do SO much…don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
I saw this news article earlier this week and I just couldn’t stop smiling. I already have a bad case of wanderlust and now I simply must visit Taiwan. Flying direct with Hello Kitty. My husband is almost sorta kinda talked into it. http://www.chron.com/business/article/Hello-Kitty-makes-for-serious-business-and-some-6338782.php
I come to your blog not to specifically talk about the Big Issues, even though those sometimes come up, but to read your take on the world, including those occasional Big Issues. It’s your blog. And that’s why I’m here. <3
The Spoon Theory. That was amazing. Made me cry. Thank you for doing what you do! Thanks for the laughter and the serious-ness sometimes. It’s all worth it.
With great popularity comes great power. You probably should read my book to help you relax. It’s porn but in a fun way cause it all takes place at Disney World, yet doesn’t have any weird character play. Screwing Mickey would just be weird. I have standards. Plus I paired a Disney cocktail and recipe to each of the short stories in the book. I love theming with booze. It’s the total opposite of dealing with soul-stealing, draining, makemefeellikedirt bs. It has 12 “happy endings”. Dark Rides, Erotic Disney Theme Park Adventures. On Amazon. I know you don’t like people randomly sending you stuff so I won’t. But, if you’d like a signed copy, let me know and I will. Not asking for any promoting (it’s done well so far on its own). I just think it would give you a laugh and perhaps make you want to go to WDW and do horrible dirty things in the companion restrooms. Victor, you’re welcome.
What I’m pissed about is that you are not talking about me! I guess I’ll file my list of demands for you in the circular bin.
I enjoy reading you. I like your perspective and opinions (I’m even assuming I would like them if I disagreed).
Some blogs and articles make me want to write a rebuttal … just because. I read yours when I can and smile, nod my head, and sometimes blow coffee out of my nose. It’s a good thing. You provide things we can think about, and never in an argumentative manner that would provoke the desire for “and here’s my opinion.” (But that’s just my opinion.)
I like what you do, the way you do it. Don’t ever change.
How do you feel about shaving? (http://40somethingbreckgirl.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-blog-no-one-wants-to-read-way.html)
http://40somethingbreckgirl.blogspot.com/2015/06/why-world-needs-caitlyn-jenner.html
Hmmm. So I’m not going to the fiery pit for not reposting all those “Share if you love Jesus, ignore if you are Satan’s minion” posts? 70 years later I am still shaking off the guilt yoke of being raised Boston Irish Catholic. Bless the gods (or demons), who gifted me the dark humor that is my sanctuary. Shine on with your own spectacular light. You never know whose path you illuminate.
I’m a black woman, with two black sons and a black daughter on the way. And life is scary right now and I’m frustrated and sometimes just want to turn in on myself because nowhere feels safe. And I tell you this, so you know where I’m coming from. I love your blog and I come here when I need to just be OKAY. When I need a few minutes (sometimes it turns into hours) to not feel like life is a crappy deal that will never get better. And occasionally, I end up surprised that you’ve actually weighed in on something, so I make sure to read because I know it must have been pressing on you if you decided to say something. And it makes me feel better that you DON’T post about these things regularly because you consider them to be a “Duh!” posts and “Of course these things are bad!”. The fact that you do gives me a hope. Hope that things won’t always feel this way and won’t always be this scary. So, know that at least one person appreciates things exactly as they are. And here’s something that made me cry and gave me chillls and that I listened to several times in a row because it was so beautiful to me. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/22/when-a-black-man-and-a-white-woman-speak-for-each-other_n_7638530.html?1435003657=&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063
Those of us who have followed you forever don’t expect more out of you. We accept what you are able to give, when you reach back out to us, we know you know us… and are aware of us. You’ve helped me through black times, even when you aren’t aware of it
JUST REMEMBER… you are fantastic just as you are, just as you are able to give us… and your most faithful loving followers love you just as you are, just as you are able to allow us in, just don’t change for the others, and please don’t write crap that you THINK WE NEED because people tell you we need your opinion on it, just give us what we need… you, your humor, your adorable daughter, your goofy husband, beyonce, doctor who and every taxidermied item you find that you love!
You are brilliant. And sparkly. And all the things that make you you and not someone else. We all have to make choices on what we support and speak out on or participate in, and just because you’re a public persona does not mean you should spread yourself thinner than cheap syrup on pancakes. I could do more, but I could also be an emptier shell for doing that. I think the world is better with a fuller you and me in it than one who doesn’t have time to do the fun cool stuff (or just hide under the covers and survive the day) that makes us us because . Do what makes your heart sing and then move along. There’s plenty of other singers out there too.
Oh. Oh, shit. I get it……this is really brilliant and I appreciate you taking the time to spell it out so VERY clearly. All bloggers…or at least me….often think many of these thoughts but you’ve expressed them brilliantly….thank you for that. And my bit of inspiration,hope and kindness is from a current
I’m surprised you have to write this – seems like common sense! Your house. Your rules. Basic manners.
Love your blog just the way it is – unpredictable, funny, touching.
“In a world so busy speaking that it can’t hear.” Slow clap. Keep singing, Jenny, And when you don’t feel like singing, let the Beatles do it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf7MrwldawY
A quote I try to live by: “Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”
This is awesome. You are awesome. I am in the middle of reading “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened” because I’m 3 years behind on my reading list (and I have a 3 year old…hmm). Anyway, I have totally laughed out loud at inappropriate times, including at my desk as work while reading your blog and your brilliant posts on CafeMom.
Let’s see…what’s really struck me this week? John Oliver’s take on the Internet and misogyny, I think, tops everything else I’ve seen or read so far, which I think also speaks to at least some of the hyper-visibility you experience: http://gizmodo.com/john-oliver-explains-why-the-internet-sucks-for-women-1713007517
This was such a good post. It hits very close to home for me. Every year I get pressured and asked and expected to join the fight, for cancer awareness, the cure and you name it, because my mother died of cancer, how could I not? Truth is, I just can’t… not just because I think we are all perfectly aware cancer sucks and kills and destroys, or I also think most of this awareness crap does nothing to find the cure for anything- they gather money to perpetuate themselves, nothing more. I lost my mother to cancer, I’ve lost many I hold dear to cancer and it sucks. It is a deep wound. I think of them often, I don’t think slapping a badge on me saying I made people aware of cancer does anything more than keep the wound raw.
I prefer to spend my energy living healthy, passing on things I’ve learned, trying not to remind myself of the pain and send my prayers to those in the fight. I also have some deeply held beliefs that my mother brought on a lot of her own pain and did little to stop it. And then slapped people in the face with her suffering to make them feel bad for not knowing her plight. She wielded it as a hammer to brow beat people, as she did with many things in her life. These things were use on me.
I get made to feel bad or guilty for not helping the fight. More power to anyone who feels this is their life journey to fight cancer publicly in every area of their lives. It is not my journey. I don’t tell people all these feelings, I just politely deny the requests and try not to get angry at the guilt trip. Cancer destroys, I choose to give it no more power in my life than what it has already taken. I do all my proper screenings annually, more than most have to go through, and I try to live a life forgiving and living healthy in what I have control of. I too fight depression, and fibro and constant pain- all linked I am confident of. As for the awareness part, how about people quit wallowing and start eating healthier, get some damned exercise, quit smoking and using carcinogenic products… take some fucking responsibility for ourselves and learn that a lot is in our control. And quit brow beating those of us who just have to put that pain and loss away, or it could consume us and take over our lives, in bad bad ways. Thanks for listening. Keep being you, I love to laugh at your stories and I always see and understand some of that underlying pain. I would always rather laugh and guffaw than give darkness any more attention.
Okay, that didn’t come out right did it… 🙂 Sometimes a do over is the right thing …. http://smartliving365.com/my-top-10-favorite-quotes-from-abraham-hicks/
Well, THAT was just splendiferous! But I’m kinda still stuck on the orange kitten thing. I need to know they’re okay.Because the image of their trying to scoot around on converted roller skates is troublesome.
I was so scared this was going to be something bad!!!! You do use your Powers for Good which is why I cling to your blog like a suckerfish on crazy glue. If you filled every blog with a good cause that’s going to make me feel like (more of) an asshole – I would stop reading your blog and there would be this massive hole inside me that only weird awesome humor can fill. I don’t need you to be deep- I need you to be a safe-haven for the Left of Centers.
“I am not your rage monkey” => That’s a great one and I’ll be using it myself! As usual, your post is not just great and food for thought in itself, but also brings out the best comment section of the internet ^_^
I love this post! We would all do well to remember that we have our own song and just be happy when someone joins in at just the right time.
You rock, Jenny Lawson. You are an excellent hostess in your lovely home, and it’s sad to hear that so many ask you for things in your own home, but yet it doesn’t surprise me. There’s a lot of things to support and back, but a person can only do so much. YOU are the one who matters the most, so you do what you need to do.
Here’s something fun, which I’m sure you’ve seen, but it’s always fun to see David Tennant sing with the Proclaimers, and dang, can that Ood DANCE!
I love you blog. My favorite one is about Beyoncé. I share every chance I get because I appreciate your humor. I need it in my life or like you, could fall into the depths of depression and never come out. This post reminded me of a disagreement I had with a close friend. I had done something shitty, more than once and even though I felt terrible and apologized, she continued to hold it over my head. I finally told her I couldn’t apologize anymore and if she couldn’t forgive me and move on, we couldn’t be friends anymore. I then told her, “I feel shitty enough on a daily basis all by myself. I do NOT need your help.” We cried. Problem solved.
I get you. Keep writing!
Via the awesomeness of the Yarn Harlot, my Words are Birds right now and they are flying away from me and not leaving much left to say but thank you. I am having an indescribably cruel month / year / foreseeable future and I really needed to read your post and links today.
Thank you so much, Jenny.
I was all like, “Yeah, you do you, you awesome badass of amazing!” but then I saw “severed boob” and like, OMG WTF BBQ, say whay?!?
I think this post is outstanding. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by the demands of readers, but I kind of was. It’s one thing to be passionate about a cause and try to get others to notice it, but intimidation tactics would never even occur to me. That’s part of why Twitter makes me crazy. I look at someone like you or Ellen DeGeneres who is on a mission to do good for others and has a lot of followers. There are so many shouts from fans for attention to important causes – but that much noise and anger would make me lose my mind!
Personal boundaries are important; everyone should keep them!
“A song that sometimes overlaps with yours as we find ourselves unexpectedly sharing a chorus we never knew we had in common.” Beautiful Jenny! You’re right- like crickets 🙂
http://blogs.discovery.com/animal_oddities/2013/11/cricket-song-slowed-down-sounds-like-angels-singing.html
Depression lies. I’ve misquoted you, but I know you won’t mind that I’ve said to friends who need to be reminded. “Depression is a fucking liar. Please don’t believe it”.
It isn’t enough to say that this was beautifully written. This is exactly why I read your stuff. You are a beautiful person. You are flawed, you show your insecurities, you are a little whack (ok, maybe more than a little, but that’s a good thing), you are funny, you are talented, you are kind, you are empathetic, you have an amazing view on the world, and you inspire me. Keep being you and I’ll come to visit your house as often as you’ll have me.
Thank you, Jenny! You inspire me!
<3
I love your song, and I don’t want it to be changed by anyone but you. I love that so many times we are singing in chorus but sometimes you teach me a new verse. And I’m glad you felt empowered enough to say these things that you needed to get out and it doesn’t mean that you don’t want to help people but it can’t be all that you do and there’s no fair way to pick. So Yes! I get you! You are still loved and if you lose readers I’m afraid they weren’t really here for the tribe in the first place.
Here’s some links… this one is heavy… but i read it this morning and it resonated with me and what I want my daughter to have/ Strength and not guilt and shame. http://while-you-were-sleeping.com/2014/02/04/rape-culture-cover-your-eyes/
This is captivatingly lovely http://hellogiggles.com/couple-dance-video-subway/
And this is straight up freaking adorable!! I’d never get anything done https://www.facebook.com/fidalgosphynx/videos/615255438589662/
And these are things I listen to when the world gets too loud and I need to sooth my brain https://www.youtube.com/user/GentleWhispering https://www.youtube.com/user/MassageASMR
Love you to wee little pieces Jenny. Your song has helped me sing my own xo
I am proud of you for taking care of you.
I am trying to do the same.
this is the one that opened my eyes…. http://thebloggess.com/?p=4304
I love you because you are not fake or full of promotion. You are genuinely kind and thoughtful. When I read your posts I can hear your heart and how you want to help others. You’ve helped so many just by giving us reminders that depression lies and that we are needed here and someone loves us. Now you’ve helped me to understand people with illnesses without a face by showing my the spoon theory. I am so greatful every day that I found your blog. Thank you for being brave enough to write your life’s story. We love you.
Thank you for “on Anxiety” – I’ve been trying to will myself over the wall. My therapist keeps telling me to acknowledge the wall. My therapist is right 😉
In internet terms, this is old. http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/06/why-being-broken-in-a-pile-on-your-bedroom-floor-is-a-good-idea-julie-jc-peters/
I’ve been a long time reader and never posted a comment but I’m commenting today. YOU GO GIRL. I am a long time reader because I want to read WHAT YOU WRITE. You are awesome.
Standing Ovation
May I borrow your broom to clean house? I love the redecorating! {grin} Well said, btw!
I’m glad you pressed “Go” anyway. And so are 344 other people before me!
Jenny, your song is enough. I found you through laughter, and stayed because you GET it. You give voice to my song often. And you literally saved my life one night. I put out on Twitter questioning when it was time to seek hospitalization for depression, and you responded. I felt stupid and guilty and worthless. I thought they’d laugh when I said I wanted to hurt myself. Swiftly and surely, you said GO NOW. And I went. And I’m still here. YOUR SONG IS ENOUGH. Don’t worry about people who think you need to him a few bars of theirs. You’ve a gift to share. Share it your way.
Thank you for saying this, and saying it so well. The expectation that is out there for bloggers to raise their own voices on every single shitty thing happening in the world is an exhausting one. It’s like the old saying – Pick your battles. We each have to choose the battles that are most important to us.
What a well written post. When I’m feeling down I listen to this song from a musical called [Title of Show]. It’s a simple song that reminds me I’m stronger than the vampires that fly around my head.
http://youtu.be/9DDdM66_nSI
one of a persons greatest strengths is to know their own limitations and when to shut the eff up. This is why I read your blog. Because you are not only a genius but more self-aware than any other writer I know.
I also know you weren’t fishing for comments like this but I mean it so there.
Be kind to one another. Don’t be a dick. Are you Jesus, and if so, how do you take a bath?
I sometimes feel like I have the opposite problem on my blog – I DO write the “racism sucks” posts and I’m even proud of how I phrased things; but then I throw that up there alongside posts about things like What I Made For Lunch and it’s the posts about lunch that get the most views.
Whatever. You write what you write and that’s all that matters, just as long as you’re saying it the best way (okay, I have a problem with that too sometimes, but I’m climbing back on the writing horse after a period of Massive Persistent Suck and it’s like relearning a language, so baby steps).
I love you. I love your song. Please keep singing. <3
I think wil Wheaton said it best “don’t be a dick” , he would totally understand and agree with what you’re saying here . do as you please & don’t let the assholes get you down!
Bravo. Lovely post. Lovingly and respectfully written. I adore your wacky wonderful songs.
First I have to say that the second paragraph of this post totally reminded me of that scene from The Hobbit where Gandalf is attempting to explain to Galadriel why he brought Bilbo along with them. While others believe that only great power can fight the evil in the world, he has found “that it is the small things, every day deeds from ordinary folk, that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love.”–not gonna lie, that part almost always makes me teary-eyed, and so did reading your post today. Not sad tears, or happy tears, but the kind that appear when the words of another person connect to something inside of you and help remind you that you’re not alone. I’ve been reading your blog for over 6 years now but this is my first time to write a reply or comment, I guess because I was too self-conscious and convinced that I didn’t really have anything to say that was worth contributing. Or maybe I was just too lazy. Probably both. But now I feel compelled to thank you, thank you for opening up your house and inviting me in, making me feel welcome and wanted all these years. For the simple acts of kindness and love that are every single one of your posts and sentences in your books, regardless of the topic. Keep singing your song (or at least something by Prince, that man def is bad-ass).
If it helps, I come here to read what you write, not what someone else wants you to write.
Here’s the thing: you owe us nothing. NOTHING. Whenever I read that people are pissed because a blogger isn’t sharing more of their life (or too much) or God forbid they stop blogging, I get a little stabby.
And then I make myself feel a bit better thinking thy are stay because they have nothing more to do in their life once they finish dusting their collection of ceramic clown statues and reporting their neighbors insignificant HOA violations because it’s their self-assigned job.
It’s when writers write for themselves that the magic really happens. Keep making magic the way you do.
Ugh. I can only imagine the kinds of requests you get. Considering no one knows who I am and I get really ridiculous stuff sometimes. I think you just have to do and support and talk about the things that make sense for you. And the fact that you do that is one of the reasons we adore you.
One of my favorite quotes ever, by one of my favorite people, Jeffrey R. Holland: “We are infinitely more than our limitations or our afflictions.”
I always feel that if someone is so determined to get their cause/belief/story out there, they can write it themselves. Start their OWN blog and let loose. “Hiring” a pitch man/woman to say the words for you is never as effective as saying it for yourself. When people feel about something that strongly, they WILL find the words – even if they don’t normally speak/write publicly.
That said, when I come here, I want to read YOU. What you’re thinking. What you’re feeling. How the world is for you today. Happily, you give me exactly what I come for. Thanks, Sweetie.
I like the assholes of the world. I get hotel upgrades because they are rude to the front desk and I”m nice. I got out of a traffic ticket because the asshole before me insulted the judge whereas I was polite and laughed at his joke. Thank goodness for the rude, short tempered, “I’m in a hurry and I need attention right now” kind of people. I get the large soda when I paid for a medium thanks to them. 🙂
And I don’t have anything of relevance to add, everyone else says it a lot better than I ever could.
You know what I want you to blog about? Stuffed dead animals in cute outfits and tin roosters and crazy things your cats do and your husband says. So as long as you stick to those things, and other things that amuse you, I’m sure we’ll be fine out here.
Also, I do like it a lot when you blog about battling depression and anxiety. Those are topics that very few people actually share in the first person, and it makes me feel a little less alone to know that there’s at least one person out there who “gets it” and is brave enough to fight the good fight. It gives me hope. To carry on. YOOOOUUUU LIGHT UP MY LIFE! Okay, sorry about the Debbie Boone. But I think you get the idea.
Thank you, is what I’m trying to say. As for the naysayers, you can tell them what I’ve told people in the past, “This blog is not a democracy. If you want to share that message, get your own blog and put your message there.”
OH! I forgot that I was going to tell you et all that I saw a mini Beyonce chicken (about 2 ft tall) at Fred Meyers the other day. I was going to buy it, but my Husband threatened to set it up so it was watching me sleep every night because I go to bed before him. Though the thought now occurs to me that I could buy it, and set it up so it’s watching HIM sleep when I wake up in the mornings. Hmm…
This is one of those times you moved me!
Such wise words. And how wonderful to have figured this out about yourself. I am working on that for myself. I LOVE your blog, and you have made me laugh so many times….cry also….and think and learn. Keep doing what you do. I love it. Now, I am off to read your suggested blogs. 🙂
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbCeyb9okac&w=560&h=315%5D
Long time reader. I love your song. These songs of Amanda Palmer’s (and most of her work honestly) always help me.
First a sad important one:
http://shop.amandapalmer.net/collections/digital/products/bigger-on-the-inside
Then a similar, happier more melodic one:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9WZtxRWieM
Then an uplifting one:
http://shop.amandapalmer.net/collections/digital/products/ukulele-anthem-download
This one especially reminds me of your post because she sings about people asking her if she really wants to help why not quit and feed the hungry.
And finally my favourite, a silly one:
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=amanda+palmer+map+of+tasmania&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari
The fact that you don’t scream and rant and rave at me (maybe not AT me, but sometimes it feels that way) about the atrocity du jour is exactly why I love you. I can’t open my newsfeed without being bombarded with people telling me how I should feel, and why I’m stupid/racist/ignorant if I don’t join them in their outrage.
Can I not just sit quietly over here, make a solemn vow to never do/say/think whatever shitty thing is being discussed? I promise to step in when I personally see someone – like, someone in line in front of me at Publix – being abused or belittled, and I feel that’s far more effective than adding my voice to the masses that are screaming from every public media platform.
I know the chances of my changing anyone’s mind on hot-button issues are virtually nil, so instead, I choose to live my life in a way that reflects my beliefs. I may not change the world this way, but at least I’m not making it any shittier.
And if you get any hate mail regarding this post, I strongly suggest you share said mail and the submitter’s name and contact info with your readers. We’ll take care of it 😉
This post is spot on. No one can be everything to everyone. All we can be is ourselves, and what you and your community of wonderful commenters bring is more than enough. <3
Today’s nytimes oped by Roxane Gay is well worth reading, everyone.
Keep rocking your blog EXACTLY the way you see fit. We will all still be right here reading. Hugs.
I bought a 1972 orange beetle yesterday. I named her Ember and she is great. I live in a really really high-income area, but I myself am not wealthy. I love driving old bugs, they have such lives (I think they are alive), and plus when I drive them I feel like nobody can tell how much money I make, and it always feels vaguely like people want to place me in the income strata of their minds. Some don’t, but many do. Anyway, she makes me happy. And she’s mine. Thanks for reading about my new old car of dreams. She is important to me.
I’m with you, sister, all the way — and on one point in particular: something by Prince will always make everything better. Thank you for your kindness…
Good for you! I’m sure it’s hard to say, but you’ve gotta take care of you! I used to do a lot with Moms Demand Action because I’m a big supporter of gun sense, but I had to pull back and stop engaging because it was too psychically draining and I was constantly exhausted from outrage and sorrow.
I use the spoon theory all the time! Helps me get through the day. Keep singing your song Jenny, as we all want to hear it! And for some reason, out of that entire beautiful post, all I can think about is that you found a severed boobie in your yard?
Love this post and have felt strongly about the spoon theory for 8 years now.
With that I give you Sesame Street…….
I love you in a completely non-creepy way. No one else can make me laugh, and cry, the way you do. Keep doing what you do, and protect yourself above all.
I send people the Spoon Theory link all the time to explain about surviving with mental illness and chronic pain.
Thank you for writing this, too. It’s so hard not to feel guilty sometimes–but you can only write what you write, and I love what you write. I love the beauty that you add, and your Furiously Happy things are some of the best things. Beyonce brought me into a relationship I love. My life is so many times better because of what you write. Thank you.
I have my own Beyonce outside my front window because of you. I laugh every time I see her! Thank you!!!
Thank you, Jenny. Thank you for making me laugh until my sides hurts, for both helping me to recognize the value I bring to this world and reminding me when depression comes creeping back, for creating a community full of kindness and acceptance. And thank you for drawing the distinction between noise for sake of expectation and words you share because you feel them. <3
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbCeyb9okac&w=560&h=315%5D
man i REALLY needed that boggle the owl. thanks Jenny!
The outbreak of constant outrage is exhausting. Thanks for not participating.
Love, a big fan who happens to be an average white Southerner (kindness does matter, so does not making assumptions about an entire region of the US. Not outraged, just a note 🙂
I enjoy reading your blog and the very interesting and/or funny things you have to say. Thanks for your determination to keep saying that rather than the things others would have you repeat. Note to others: when I have something to say I say it
myself–there’s been a lot about charleston this week–rather than trying to get others to speak for me.
Your post was terrific, and I appreciated those links. You have so much to say already, without anyone making demands of you. That you say it with humor makes it even better.
This made me smile today — especially the tortoises. It was shared by a zoology friend:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/caitlinjinks/raptor-squad-assemble#.spaVPVZlP
You rock! If I could give you a new Beyonce experience every day I would. I share that story all the time with folks and preface it with “This is my favorite blog post of all time!” I try to watch this every week (and I TRY to follow the positive rules :-)) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLJsdqxnZb0 It is about happiness – so much Ted, so little time!
Thanks for letting us into your house. I’m sorry some of us forgot to wipe our feet and re-hang the towels neatly. You are still a gracious hostess.
“and cats will scratch you if given enough time” — everything you wrote resonated, but this was my favorite. It’s the perfect lightness — because dude, ain’t no one got time for guilt & shame foisted upon them, and that definitely isn’t fair. Yay house boundaries!
Honey, this is YOUR blog and you write whatever you godamned want. We love you regardless.
“Today, may you find a way to count the blessings without discounting the sorrows. May you take a break from trying to boss your personality into being someone she isn’t comfortable being. May you be gentle with yourself, patient with your grief, and slow to move on from your celebrations. May today be the day you catch your breath.” By Emily P Freeman
This: “Just one tiny voice in a world that won’t shut up. In a world so busy speaking that it can’t hear.”
Effin’ brilliant! Just so damn brilliant I see George Costanza throwing up his hands and saying “I’m out”!
I’m a therapist. I get paid to, hopefully, help people with their struggles and I have to say that YOU help ME when you share your song and your stories with the world. Please keep doing that.
I love you, Jenny, and everything you write!!! Your “song” is definitely one of my most favorite songs! Other things that make me feel happier these days – live webcams of walrus (walruses? walrii?), puffins, and other animals on explore.org!
Thank you, thank you for making me laugh.
Ive read your first beek so often i could probably quote the whole thing in my sleep. It would have to be sleep cuz i cant remember anything when im awake.
Write what you need to.
And thank you, and please dont stop.
Honey. I hope that you know that for every one person who is trying to use you to further their cause, there are a hundred more who just love you like a long-lost friend; without judgement, without expectation. Sometimes it is hard to remember that famous people, even famous bloggers, are really the same people who are wondering what in the hell they’re going to make for supper, tonight, and staring at the toilet paper aisle trying to remember what brand it was that you hated.
So many of us love you for you.
I suffer from depression and anxiety. My husband is bipolar. I loved your book and I love your blog. I can’t wait to read your next book. Keep posting what you want because, damnit, it’s your house. We’re all just visitors.
I think you’re perfectly within your right as a person to put your foot down. It’s your blog, so you should be able to write about what you want to write about and causes that are important to you. One person can do one thing at a time to make the world a little bit better. Trying to do all the things at once will just make you crazy. If you’re super passionate about one thing, that’s great. Do that one thing to the max! Just realize that not everyone is going to love that one thing as much as you. There are only so many hours in a day and so few shits to give. Might as well make them count and try a new shit to give tomorrow. 🙂
I just love this post….. And you. You FUCKING ROCK!
This must have been a truly exhausting post to write. Sorry to read that you have to endure so much harrassment. I can only hope this will give people a different perspective.
Well said.
That was perfect! ! !
In other news I have no idea why I thought of this but I did. 🙂
Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said: “one can’t believe impossible things.”
“I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
Dammit! I do not have time to go through the comments and follow all the awesome links today! 🙁 But I will still leave some of my own, because one of them is pertinent and one is funny.
Thank you for putting goodness and kindness and humor into the world. I hope the presumptuous people stop trying to use you for your platform. You do enough – more than most people who have unlimited spoons.
Anyway, links:
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/the-nra-was-here-until-it-wasnt
https://twitter.com/shrekgot
This was great, you’re great! I’ve saved all the articles you’ve shared, I’m excited to read them.
Much kindness to you!
As I said when we discussed this months ago, take care of you. 🙂
THIS is why I read your blog and buy your books. Damn, woman. You can write.
Just looking at the title of this one and thinking about how rude it is for someone to ask you to speak for them at all. like seeing a cross in someones living room and then asking them to allow you to put up a painting they made of the last supper in your kitchen. but then you politely brush them off and they continue to INSIST you explain why your not going to do it with passive guilt trips because “come on man were friends and promoting mutual interests is important to maintaining that bond!” then the other dinner party guests arrive all “dude, Jenny since when did you get so religious and WHERE did that god awful velvet painting in your kitchen come from?!” I totally get it.
Fuck a bunch of people who want to capitalize on your popularity for their own causes. You give and give and give to us and to everyone and don’t you ever forget it or feel guilty about not giving in to someone’s demands. We gotcher back.
Also YOU are my song. xoxoxox
From one Jenny to another, I believe your feelings on this matter are completely valid. I understand where people come from when they are in a position where they are trying to raise awareness and attention to a cause that is passionate to them, or even the people who want to sell Kleenex. However, it isn’t your duty to take on and promote the causes of the world. If something sparks a passion within you, or if it is something that you truly feel like passing on, yes. But, I think it is completely rude and disrespectful of people to try and belittle you, or to make you feel like a bad person for not taking up their torch for them… this isn’t the Olympics. That being said, I love your blog, I love what you write… and it really wouldn’t be the same if you became an advertising PR blog always promoting this or that. Stay true to yourself! <3 We love you.
PS: That comment may have come out a little more hostile than I meant it to be. 🙂 ♥
I think you writing about whatever you choose to write about is exactly what people need. It is your point of you. You offer us humor in a time a need. You offer us your opinion in a time where we need to hear it. Your writing is your writing and it wouldn’t be your writing if you had to write about other people’s topics. Keep being you, you have helped more people than you know.
my link: neurtoicnellyocd.blogspot.com
I’m glad you pressed “publish.”
Absolutely lovely, all of it. You are fab xx
Nice does matter. Thank you for your beautiful words, they bring happiness to my soul. Carry on…
That Boggle The Owl post SAVED MY LIFE a few years ago.
xo.
“In a world so busy speaking it can not hear”. Brilliant. Jenny, don’t be afraid of this post
You are RIGHT in that decision, and brave to say it out loud, and strong to follow through
With only links to the amazing. You do you, girl and I’ll be here laughing like always
And learning some too. ✌️
This post is perfect!
Thank you.
It sucks to be fifty two, look more like 45, go thru your second divorce (this time one you wanted) and have to deal with the stigma of mental health when your 23 year old son is finally diagnosed with schizophrenia after 3 long years of trying to find out what’s going on with him……He who was so handsome and athletic and fun and smart and polite…….is gone….even now on meds…..is gone.
Sorry….I just loved this whole blog it made me think…..which was your whole point.
Here is my go-to place for daily rations of kindness and hope:
http://thebloggess.com/
This is one site speaks to me in ways no other can. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry, it makes me reflect on what kind of person I am and what kind I want to be. It shows me how awful and lovely life is at the same Tim, and why not being ok is ok. I find myself returning to it often, reading through new and old posts for humor and perspective as needed. If I ever had the chance, I would tell its author, “Thank you for helping me survive another awful and lovely day.”
When I was reading your book in bed at night, my hubby would take it away from me because my hysterical laughing was keeping him awake! Also, when reading your book in public and the hysterical laughing for erurpt, I would get the strange look, acknowledge it then recommend your book! Never stop singing for your music speaks for so many of us! I am a quiet liberal to! Your post couldn’t have said it better!
Thank you for saying this straight up. I believe that we each have our thing(s) we vocalize and support. There are so many of us in the world that it IS possible for every important cause to be heard if we all focus and speak up on what’s most important to us. I can care about the victims of multiple diseases while still focusing my awareness and fundraising efforts on one or two that have touched my life specifically. It’s how things get done.
As for my ‘song’? I don’t speak eloquently on issues, but I do put what little I know into action creatively. I’m gearing up for my sixth year at Intervention (interventioncon.com) — my first time working staff after five years as an artist guest. I watched and experienced the good it did as a place for creative and artistic sorts to meet, educate, and inspire each other, and I wanted to step forward and do more. It’s going to be a great year, and already I’m talking to people who are excited at the thought of turning their hobbies and inspirations into something that can touch the world at large.
Please keep doing what you do, just the way you do it, and we’ll all try to do the same.
I would rather spend an hour reading something as honest and heartfelt as this, than even one minute of the relentless news of the world. Yes, I do end up reading the news, but there is so little of it that is good, encouraging, or inspirational. When you share your thoughts, I don’t judge you, because you have an open heart and live an examined life. And you are someone I think I’d really enjoy sharing a cup of coffee with. That always makes me happy.
Really, this said it all: “But if I’m always singing everyone else’s song then there’s no room for mine. I have a song to sing.” This is what we all need to remember. It might be important to weight in on things, but it has to be in each person’s time, and with their own voice, and because it is meaningful to them. Anything else is … well…. it’s like cacophonic sheep bleating all at once, none hearing the rest. We have enough of that.
Keep singing what you enjoy, and I will too, and if we luck into a harmony, all the better.
hugs for peace
I work in Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention, and have for over a decade. Even if you never wrote a word, ever, you would be a person worthy of love, honor and respect. I’m coming to understand something that is really hard sometimes:
“You don’t have to set yourself on fire to keep others warm.”
It’s selfish of others to try and use your platform for their cause,… regardless of the message. It reminds me of the social media posts that say,… “Share in the next 15 seconds or your first born will spontaneously com-bust,…” or network marketers that use peer pressure as their sales strategy. Its not always what they say,… but how they say it. They are nothing more than parasitic bullies all dressed up. And P period S period, all you people that replied to this with links in your message or tagline,… are hypocrites,… Now if you will kindly excuse me,.. I need another Xanax, and to I have a load of laundry begging for it’s 7th consecutive 10 minute ride in the dryer,…
Loved your post – and the part there being room to sing your own song and that sometimes we may find we have the chorus in common – brilliantly done and I couldn’t agree more.
All I have to share today is an actual song… an old one that is brand new to me and I’m loving it. I’ve been starting my mornings with it all week… “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes:
Thank you. More kindness, please. More stories about people practicing kindness, please.
“If you want to be a rebel, be kind.” – Pancho Ramos Stierle
We’ve emailed before…anxiety is my demon.
For a while I found it easy to hide back in the back of my mind and shut it all out, but the world is not like that…it is filled with people and people-type things and interactions. Somehow I climbed out of my mind and rejoined the breathing world. Then I found anger. And that was my game. Everything made me angry. The sun, the lack of sun. The traffic, the stars, my dinner plate, air, my friends, my house. So when I realized this, I started googling all kinds of random things…first medical anomalies, then how to fix this, happiness methods, then at some point I began talking to people about it. Telling them my struggle. Eventually, I found this blog: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/ and realized that my anger was hiding my anxiety. That was ME in the dinosaur costume…sure, mine was more pink (with polka dots and pearls) but there it was. The description of me. In all of its ugly glory…out on display for the world to see. So I slowly began taking the costume off; I think I’ve managed to remove the last piece and I’ve tried to give bits and pieces away, some got thrown in the trash on the side of the road at a random rest stop. And I do still have the tail, but sometimes you need to show your tail to get things done, so its being saved for a rainy day! All of my vulnerabilities and anxiety – they are here, sometimes you have to search to find them, sometimes I forget that they are mine, sometimes, I feel free…but mostly, it’s all churning just below the surface of my skin…but it’s who I am. It’s how I am me. And I like me, most of the time.
I also enjoy breathing, chocolate and coloring.
When I was little, my Granddaddy (who passed away when I was 12, but to this day is still my most favoritest human being ever) told me two stories that irrevocably changed my life. One story is about an Arabian Sheik who was not a Christian. One day, an Angel of God came to visit him and told him that if he did not commit his heart to God he would be condemned to an eternity of suffering. The Sheik said “It is true, I am not a lover of your God. But tell Him that I am a lover of Man.” The next day, the Sheik’s name was at the top of the list of God’s Blessed.
The other story is of a group of people seated around a table set with a great feast. All the people were starving, and each had a spoon. But the spoon handles were so long that they couldn’t reach their mouths to feed themselves. Then, some of the people started feeding each other, and when the others saw that these companions were eating and happy the rest joined in until the whole group was happily enjoying the feast laid out before them.
My Granddaddy was a great man, and taught me the first and clearest lessons of Love and Compassion and Acceptance I ever learned in life. Now, I teach those same lessons to my own daughter. I know that because of this he still lives, he still influences, and every time I share these stories and lessons his influence spreads throughout the world even though he’s been gone for almost 25 years.
Jenny, what you do is brave and selfless and such a… Vaccine? Antidote? Magical shield? To the demons we all have to face every day. I’ve never commented on one of your posts before due to my own insecurities. Please know that your touch is far reaching and therapeutic and cathartic, even if not all of us vocalize it (or type, as the case may be). <3
This is a post that makes me say “YES! THIS!” It seems like lots of people try to guilt trip others into echoing their statement, then get mad when it doesn’t happen. Hopefully, this helps those people realize that just because someone says no doesn’t mean that their cause is less valid.
I love your song. And lemon oreos. I fucking love lemon oreos. Here’s the post about when I decided to sing my own song: http://thelewdshrew.com/?p=193
Yesterday I was mowing the lawn and crying because living is just so fucking hard sometimes. My 4-year-old son rode past me on his scooter and without slowing down, smiled at me and said, “You’re doing good, Mama. Keep going.”
I know he was talking about the lawn but I’m taking it to mean that I’m doing ok at life right now.
Thank you for writing this. It is so true. Only being able to write what you think and being strong enough to sing your own song. Well written. Well said.
Thank you for saying things that I feel. And for giving yourself to the world as an example of being a human.
Brilliant! This is exactly the reason I do not blog, facebook, twitter or any other social media platform which sucks time and life away, only to be judged by people who can’t believe my views may not align perfectly with theirs. You nailed this one Jenny. I have a big sign in my office
KINDNESS MATTERS. We all can use a bit more kindness in life. 🙂
It’s beautiful that you sing your own song, and more so that people listen. Your voice is for those who can relate, be entertained and also for those who need to listen, contemplate and understand. Keep promoting you, your purpose and let go of those who chose not to experience your song. Continue writing what comes from your head and your heart, so it can continue to touch all of ours. Blessings. Janet
Thank you so much for this. It was brilliant and beautiful and crazy and… perfect. Like so many of your posts. And I will share my one thing that needs to be shared, because I feel like it. I went to Columbine High School when two of my classmates decided to kill 12 of my other classmates and a teacher. It was horrible and terrifying and wrong and I still wake up some nights, over 16 years later, in a sweat or tears (which is eye sweat) and it takes me longer than I’d like to remember where I am. I still look for places to hide from a phantom gunman even though I didn’t have to hide on that day. I still beat myself up for things that I have no control over including my grief.
In order to combat all of that shitiness, and because this year marked exactly half of my life Before and half of my life After, I chose to dub April 20th the Day of Kindness. I have always made sure to spend that day with the people I love best in the world (my parents, my boyfriend, my dogs), doing the things I love best (drinking beer, going to breweries), but this year I wanted to make sure that I was making the world a kinder place. I posted on every Facebook page I thought was appropriate the following post: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100396317872803&set=a.10100167203275293.1073741829.20202085&type=1&theater
It asked for people to take a moment – just one moment – that day to be kind. Not accidentally, but intentionally kind to try to make someone’s day better. It received 200 comments on the Facebook page for my town with people saying how they were going to be kind that day. My friends told me their stories. My family, all over the world, took time to be kind. It was so, so, so wonderful.
Anyway. Your post made me happy and sad and I cried a little because of either or both. And thank you for sharing. And I hope that, maybe, this whole kindness thing will catch on – specifically on April 20th – but every day would be ever better.
Forgive me if someone already said it but I think Neil Gaiman put it best, “George R.R. Martin is not your bitch.”
I read but rarely comment, but I wanted to today in order to show that I totally support your stance on this!
All those, “Post this for an hour to show that you don’t kill kittens” memes are annoying enough, it must be incredibly annoying/frustrating/stressful/upsetting to have people actually e-mailing you directly and trying to pressure/guilt you into sharing stuff. Thank you for standing your ground, it makes it easier for others to do so too. :o)
My shares are blog posts I found when researching autism (my young son is severely autistic – but a lovely and wilful bundle of mischief!):
Firstly – this, which speaks so well about the dangers of teaching compliance rather than skills to children with special needs – https://unstrangemind.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/aba/
Then this, because it counters the whole “you’re not autistic ENOUGH to comment on what is right for people with autism” that is often used to discount the opinions of actual autistics who try to speak up about what is/isn’t helpful – http://ollibean.com/2015/02/23/autistic-adults-do-not-look-like-autistic-children/#sthash.7orGx91w.dpu
And finally, on a different note – one for the writers/artists: http://kriswrites.com/2012/06/27/the-business-rusch-perfection/#comments
This is beautiful and powerful, Jenny. It’s so easy to get super passionate about a cause and to want your very favorite funny/influential people to share it (hell, I’d love if every single lady I admire shared my views on increasing elementary school gals’ exposure to STEM professions), but it’s rare that you see the human element behind the ask. Bravo.
Bravo! Bravo! I love what I know of you and want you to continue on YOUR path.
You are brave and amazing <3 Thank you for posting this! I relate completely.
Thank you for being you Jenny. You are loved for it. You give me a place that I look forward to visiting because I know that I will enjoy my time spent there. And I do.
You do you!
I’m sorry I left my severed boobie on your lawn 🙁
Thank you for saying what I often think myself. And thanks for having the brass ones to say it! Keep me laughing and thinking Jenny!
You give enough.
You do enough.
You are enough.
You Rock Jenny!! I’m going to spread more kindness and keep repeating…. Not my circus…. Not my monkeys. Love you & please know that you lift up my day every time I read your blog!!
Hi there. You are so very, very right. I have a friend who for a ton of excellent reasons is adament about the need to call out issues around racism, poverty, discrimination, and she reposted an essay about what’s wrong with you if you don’t say or do something. I wrote back to her… “Christie… i havent posted because i have no words. I am angry, depressed, pessimistic, vengeful, and out-over-raged. If i were a gun-toting violence mongering, anti-racist, i would be walking the streets. I would stand or sit and listen for words of hatred to spew and i would kill the speakers where they are—peacefully enjoying the privileges that the constitution provides and they deny others. But, i am not that person–i will not join them in anger or hatred. I will weep, and do tonglen meditation–for the victims families, for victims everywhere, and above all, for haters of all stripes and colors that their hearts would be moved.”
I type this on my phone, so it is full of typos, but it is full of my feelings. My feelings then, my feelings now. I am a college educator. I teach philosophy. I know how important it is to speak to issues and to take action. But, you have to speak and act on what is “your stuff,” not other people’s stuff. Hold your ground.
I don’t think I’ve ever commented here before, but I have to say that what you’ve written about kindness and fear reminds me of the scene in the second Tiffany Aching book (by Terry Pratchett), where Tiffany welcomes the hiver. Reading your words, and Terry Pratchett’s, and others, are essential for reminding me that kindness often means making an effort to look past the obvious and ignore my own knee-jerk responses and to find the humanity in other people. So thank you for setting an example that I try to follow (but being human, don’t always manage).
Sooo…that would be a no on my triathalon fundraising rally protest roller derby? No? No, okay I wasn’t.. well, no it’s okay. I’LL SING MY OWN DAMN SONG! Sing it lady!
It bothers me that people would actually be pissed at you for not singing their song for them, but damn sistah… good for you for standing your ground! We follow you for a reason and it sure as hell isn’t because you’re made up of everyone else’s thoughts…We follow you because you make us laugh and smile and ugly cry laugh and you make us THINK. I think its fair to say we all love you. I mean, outside of the lack of interest in promoting my song. 😉
There’s a brilliantly daft superhero webcomic called “The Non-Adventures of Wonderella.” Round about the time I started reading it, I found this review of it by a guy who was furious- FURIOUS- that the artist was wasting his brains on such frivolity instead of “working to cure cancer.” …..if I ever get cancer, I want an oncologist not a cartoonist. Call me old-fashioned.
http://nonadventures.com/
The humor you share with the world makes a difference. Look at all of these comments! I have enjoyed your humor for years – in fact I still regularly laugh about the Big Metal Chicken, and can’t help but take a picture anytime I see one.
You never know when a laugh has saved someone’s day.
I think you fucking rock. I think there’s just a bunch of pushy assholes out there that want their shit published. I think you’re doing the right thing. I think you’re funny , sensitive , a real human being and you have your own issues just like we all do. You’re awesome. Don’t stop doing what you’re doing. You have your house and we have ours. And we love you for it
Someone sent me this link about period underpants. Genius? Gross? Made me laugh. We are planning a period panty tea party. Enjoy: http://www.shethinx.com/
You have comforted and cheered us all – you are wonderful. I think your blog is perfect the way it is – please don’t change it for anyone but you. (My orange kitten is looking nervously at her legs right now).
Oh Captain, my Captain. (I don’t have a desk, so I’m standing on my chair…visually, it’s still powerful.)
This is your blog. Write what you want to write. Forget what the rest of us want! You are a popular and successful person because we like what you have to say and how you say it. You allow us to see things from a different perspective, and shed light for us to know that it is ok to be different and to enjoy off-beat things. Thank you for showing me that it is awesome for a lady to really enjoy taxidermy and that no one should take that away from me 😀 A queen cannot sacrifice the good of the many(your readers and own self) to succumb to the wants of a few(pushy asshats).
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile and love all your posts. But this one is definitely a favorite. Thanks for sharing.
For what it’s worth, I love you and I love what you write. And also, Boggle the Owl on anxiety is one of the best things I’ve ever seen! Thank you so much!
So my aunt bought one of your books and left it on the kitchen counter. My uncle knocked off the counter, much later. Hearing the crash, my aunt yelled, “What the hell was that?”
My uncle yelled back, “Let’s pretend this never happened!”
My aunt yelled, “I’m not going to pretend that noise didn’t happen! Are you ok? What made that noise?”
My uncle replied, “I’m fine. Let’s pretend this never happened!”
They had fun arguing for a bit, until my aunt finally realized he was yelling the title of the book.
Jenny –
Here’s what the annoying you-should-write-a-blog-about-that people don’t understand:
Not everything is funny.
Not every cause should be championed.
And not all fucks should be given.
When someone tries to make me write about something I don’t want to write about, I apologize and explain to them that they can’t foist their fuck onto somebody else and force that person to make it their fuck too – that’s called a pity fuck. As women we put up with enough of that shit in the bedroom, so we certainly don’t need more of it when we sit down to a keyboard.
So you keep giving your own fucks, and leave the rest of the fucks for someone else 🙂
Signed,
The Woman Who Nary Gave a Fuck
Thank you for singing your own song.
Kristi, (6/24 at 1:23pm) I love that you added that. I do have a desk but I think my coworkers would wonder… and I’ll probably knock over lots of piles of paper, so I’ll just stand here on the floor and join in
Oh Captain, my Captain!
” I don’t have the stamina or willpower to denounce every shitty thing in the world that I assume everyone else here already agrees with”
I love you for just that comment alone.
Perfectly put. Beautifully written. And thank you for the link to the Spoon Theory.
I just ran across this recently:
Keep your head up and always push forward. You CAN. You WILL.
I love the poem “Desiderata” by Max Ehrman. I refer to it on my dark days of dealing with my own Autoimmune disease (Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome)and all the shit it brings. My favorite part that I repeat often is “You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and stars. You have a right to be here.” http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~gongsu/desiderata_textonly.html
I don’t read your blog to hear what others say, I read to hear what you have to say – which includes a very necessary dose of well placed cursing and laughing at one’s self and the pets around us.
Thank you for singing your song. I can say that I have had moments of “YES! THIS!” on here. And I thank you for that. Even just reminding me that depression lies helps me more than you know. I hope you never let your song get drowned out by others. There is space enough for all of us.
Another link I love is Hyperbole and a Half’s description of depression: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/10/adventures-in-depression.html
Amen, Jenny! I’m here because you are you, not because you are following someone else’s wishes. Please keep doing your thing.
Your posts, (and your book) have given me “YES. THIS EXACTLY” feeling. I don’t think you need to feel guilty about not re-anything. You contribute in a positive way, via a medium that helps a lot of people. That’s enough.
Also, I feel guilty that I haven’t been to your blog in a while and didn’t know your second book was coming out so soon. I pre-ordered in the middle of writing this. Because I too feel guilt. And because your first book was so fucking funny that I literally pee’d my pants. And I mean the real definition of literally, not the new fake one that people use when they mean figuratively.
Thank you for sharing what many of us already feel. Thank you for wandering into my life. 🙂
Well…I THOUGHT I had a song to sing but then I read this post and now all I can think of is, (sung to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic), “OOOOh disembodied boobie/ found in Jen’s backyard/My life is pretty easy/But yours must have been hard./To all disembodied boobies/Raise your voice/Let’s hear your song/ At least you’re not a Dong. (end with a flourish and gloryglory halleilujahs. Thanks for the post. We understand. You’re loved. Keep up the good work. Sing.
Pure awesomeness. Thank you.
One of the rewards of being both kind and good at something, is that people can start to feel like you owe them — like you signed up for permanent missionary/martyr/volunteer duty. Lots of people in the helping professions have this happen to them. (“What do you mean you don’t have energy to advance my agenda as well as your own?”) People make assumptions – not always consciously. I think you have eloquently and kindly pointed this out in ways that basically well-meaning people will hear and appreciate. Bravo and thank you.
I love this post. I love your mantra of kindness.
At the risk of a little bit of self-promotion, I wanted to share with you something I wrote right after Caitlyn Jenner introduced herself. I wanted to give a perspective of a born-again Christian who….well…read it for yourself.
“Done”: http://www.motherhoodunscripted.com/?p=6006
“Done Pt. 2”: http://www.motherhoodunscripted.com/?p=6009
Jenny I am saving this post to buoy me up when I get overwhelmed by so much injustice and so many worth issues while am one person with one brain, one heart and depression and an anxiety disorder and I care about all of it. You are so right on about kindness. I love Jenny. And btw your first book made me laugh loudly and I appropriately in the library–more than once.
Jenny, my love.
the REASON your blog is so powerful & so important, the REASON you are the matriarch of our tribe, is BECAUSE you don’t do these things. You are not another ad board, another sponsored blog site, another believe this or else” writer. You express the world as you see it. That is what we need. That is why we relate to you.
don’t ever change.
In the same DPS vein as comment #467, that’s one heck of a barbaric YAWP you just shared with us all. Kudos–may we all have the courage to do the same.
I love this post. I love your mantra of kindness.
At the risk of a little bit of self-promotion, I wanted to share with you something I wrote right after Caitlyn Jenner introduced herself. I wanted to give a perspective of a born-again Christian who….well…read it for yourself.
“Done”: http://www.motherhoodunscripted.com/?p=6006
“Done Pt. 2″: http://www.motherhoodunscripted.com/?p=6009
Thank you 🙂 I needed this today! Two things are my go to when I drop into despair – Baz Luhrmann’s “Everybody’s Free to Wear Suncreen” – just a phenomenal speech that has a lot of good advice. The other is a plaque on my wall “Don’t let success go to your head and don’t let failure go to your heart”. Neither always work but at least they help most of the time 🙂
I only want to say that your voice is precious, and has helped me immeasurably. You are unique and don’t feel any hesitation about defending that.
You are doing good in this world.
No post to share. Just a response. Thank you. I don’t want to be inundated by everyone else’s crusades. I see enough PETA-animal-torture-porn and yay-adoption type feeds on Facebook. I read your blog because you make me smile when sharing your antics, or I sometimes cry when you explain how mental illness affects you (because it helps to know I’m
not alone in the dark). This is why people come to your site again and again. Please don’t change who you are. Thank you for being uniquely you.
To those who write demanding your agenda must be advanced through any means necessary–bullying and manipulating does not make people more sympathetic to your cause. Please give us a rest from the constant barrage of everything has to be fixed now mentality. It’s exhausting.
yes and AMEN! wonderful post.
p.s. your house is comfy. i like it here. thanks for having me over.
🙂
It’s your blog. Period. I had someone post on mine that I swore too much, and because of you I had the courage to say, ‘My blog, my voice. No one is forcing you to read this.’. So, thank you. And know that no entitled ass can make you feel inferior without your consent.
You are my hero, Jenny Lawson. You’ve helped me through some rough shit.
Oh my dear, I can’t wait to read all of these response but… I must agree with a few that I’ve skimmed and say that “depression lies.” is a simple statement that helped me pull up in a long downhill slide. They are true and powerful words that you sent out to us all and they had an effect.
The true kindness in your words oozes all over us…. In the best of ways, and leaves us all a little lighter. Keep it up. Keep singing your song.
Now back up to the top of these comments. They are fabulous as is your tribe of lovely heartfelt people.
I too share your philosophy – but I only get to use it when my mother posts things like “Share this pic of Jesus if you don’t want puppies to die.”
Jenny – It is perfectly acceptable to say, “I have words I want to say on this, but I can’t put them in the right order yet, so I can’t right now”, or “My words are not the ones that need to be heard on this topic”. Anyone who can’t understand that needs to go sit in the thinking corner for a while.
Dearest Jenny,
You are enough. Just as you are. I know what it feels like to have the world telling you that you should do or be something else. It’s okay, we’ll be here for you.
To me, your song is perfect. Thank you for being true to yourself.
-Amber
I’ve read this 3 times, and each time, all I can think is that your daughter is so, so lucky to have you as her mama. My biggest fear is that I won’t be able to adequately teach my girls how to be strong, yet still maintain grace and eloquence and kindness and happiness, and to know that they are more than enough. And then I read this. This is the exact sentiment I have been struggling to put words to – and those words have been within you all along. Thank you for singing this song.
I return to this image regularly: https://twitter.com/_HaikusGoddess/status/433066117352153088/photo/1. Here’s the text:
“If you are reading this, you have survived your entire life up until this point. You have survived traumas, heartbreak, devastation, the different phases of life. And here you are. You go, motherfucker. You are awesome.”
It’s pretty funny to me that the exact thing I needed to hear, I heard at the exact moment on a educational series about Fabric Printing: “If I was worried about what was going on then I’d always be trying to catch-up to somebody, I’m not interested in that, I’m not interested in competing with anybody, I just want to compete with myself, I just want to do the best work I can do and that has nothing to do with anybody else.” – Lizzy House
I love you never change, unless you want to.
New to your blog, but may I say Bravo!
Never change. Don’t let the Muggles get you down.
This. This guy. So much yes.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GV-WONhEZec
I love your house, I love your song, and I love you for sharing them so eloquently in the way only you can. You can’t carry everything.
You are an exceptional person and your sharing of yourself through this blog is a kindness in and of itself. Bravo Jenny!
Well said. Keep being you. We like you just the way you are and love your writing. It has helped me laugh while grieving. You are a gift to all the real people with real life problems. Laughter thru tears…..
Reading your book out loud to each other has created many a fun family evening with my husband and adult daughter.
Mean People Suck!
I hope you never change. To be honest, I think anyone that has come to ‘know’ the side of you that you present here on your blog, none of this is surprising in the slightest. Still, it needed to be said and I hope at least some people will listen and understand what you’re saying and not get pissed because they think you ignored them.
Long may you carry on as you are Jenny, you rock 🙂
My son who bravely picked up a water bug (an NYC, enormous, tough-as-nails, water bug) and carried it outside rather than smushing it as I was begging him to. Yes, he did make an attempt to chase me with it, but he stopped when I freaked out. He’s 16 and loves antagonizing me–but he’s got a gentle heart. Even for horrible insects.
The song “Carry On” by Fun! gives me strength; it got me through a really rough time. Other favorites for strength: Sara Bareilles, “Brave,” Cyndi Lauper or Phil Collins, “True Colors,” Katy Perry, “Firework,” Rachel Platton “Fight Song,” Billy Joel, “You’re Only Human (Second Wind)”, “Just the Way You Are,” Blues Traveler, “Just Wait, ” and many more…Also, the movie Center Stage. I watched it over and over again while I was working on my doctorate; Amanda’s journey from problem student to star ballerina, while cheesy, was great inspiration for pushing through my dissertation.
And for what it’s worth, I think of this space, and your Twitter, as exactly what you intend it to be. I don’t ask anything of you but to be yourself and share what you need to share to make yourself stronger and shine your light out into the world. The world is a far better place because you, Jenny Lawson, are in it. My prayer for you is that those words always be on your mind. Love to you.
Never read you before but Yes! This! Great post. I love the way you write. I am a fan…
I’m sorry that you were made to feel that way, that even well meaning people put you in an uncomfortable position. You are absolutely right, and thank you for writing this.
Also thank you for giving us the chance to share something important to us in the comments. Here is mine.
When I was pregnant, my water broke at 13 weeks and we were told our baby would die. We opted to continue the pregnancy, and if the baby stayed inside and grew large enough we would donate his body to research so my little hero’s life will have meant something. That’s when I met Bethany. She lost her son just hours after birth due to anencephaly, a fatal condition they had known about for months before he was born, but like me they chose to give the gift of life through organ donation.
Fortunately my baby beat his diagnosis. The doctor that told us to terminate him cried when he visited us in the NICU. But I still believe neonatal organ donation is one of the most valuable gifts a grieving family can give as it also gives purpose to their loss.
Bethany runs an organization called All That Love Can Do, that supports and educates families that opt to continue pregnancy after terminal diagnosis. Her blog is filled with uplifting stories where women share the moments they had with their babies during pregnancy and for a short time after in some cases, and how their little ones have gone on to help others.
http://allthatlovecando.blogspot.com
You are awesome. 🙂
Yes, this is it exactly! I have long wanted to say the same/similar things and you said it so better than I have been able to do. Thank you.
Not my circus. Not my monkeys. You keep doing you – because you rock!
Yes!! ” But if I’m always singing everyone else’s song then there’s no room for mine.” Exactly. Beautiful message.
Brilliantly written, as always. I read your blog for your voice, not or anyone else’s. You’ve helped me understand that people are all screwed up – it the way and the degree of the craziness that differs.
It’s not actually a quote, but I read recently that most people are too busy worrying about themselves to judge you. I found that very freeing.
This is not about kindness, but I think you will enjoy it. In fact, I think you wrote some of it. But not all of it, because you could have been even funnier. Enjoy. And don’t mess with Virginia.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2015/06/23/every-state-flag-is-wrong-and-here-is-why/?hpid=z2
My favourite quote for dealing with my stubborn grudge-holding:
“Forgiveness is giving up hope of a better past”
I think it’s usually attributed to the historical Buddha, but I don’t think it really matters since its wisdom has helped me heal so many friendships. From my own issues.
I can attest to what it’s like to have brickbats thrown at my head when what I write doesn’t satisfy the agendas of those who read my blog.
To them I’ve learned to say “fuck you. Fuck you right up the asshole. Fuck you right up the asshole until you die.”
Then I go ahead and write what I want anyway.
Brilliant post Jenny. Hang in there and take care 🙂
Please don’t feel “bitchy,” Jenny, for setting boundaries. I know — easier said than done. Sometimes just the simple act of saying “no” makes me feel like the worst human alive. There’s power in “no,” and it’s easy to tell that you don’t wield that power lightly. You deserve to protect this space, your health and your own mental well-being. You owe us nothing, though you give us so much every day. Thanks for the welcoming home you’ve created.
I love what you do here and have no requests except that you keep writing what pleases you, or that you need to write.
I’m pretty content with stories and pictures starring your cats and transcripts of your conversations with Victor. The latter is actually why I started reading your blog, because that’s what my conversations with my husband sound like. Also the whole depression lies thing. Very helpful. I guess I’m just trying to say that you’re awesome and should continue being awesome and that anyone who gives you a hard time is a dork.
THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE
I just read The Spoon Theory and cried. This explains my sister’s fibromyalgia for me.
Thank you.
I love you. I enjoy your stories. I bought your book for my best friend at Christmas time. Just be. Just be you and your true fans will follow. I am glad you are standing up for yourself.
I like http://www.emotionalbaggagecheck.com/ because on my bad days, i can find encouraging words and on my good days I can give others encouraging words. It’s a pick-me-up either way. Because knowing you aren’t alone is powerful.
I demand that you keep writing EXACTLY the way that you want to! About funny things, about sad things, about yourself and your family, about ANY DAMN THING YOU WANT. Love you just the way you are!
I like to think that there’s a little Hamlet in all of us. Not that melancholy stuff. Or being a prince. But I’ve always believed that we should have a little Danish in us. Especially in the morning. — Leslie Nielsen
Hey girl.I guess I’m what you could call a sometimes reader. I check in from time to time and almost always leave with a smile. Some of the things you write about are so closely related to my life that they become a trigger, so I take a little break. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write about it. This is your blog, your house as you put it. Be true to yourself and write about what you want. I for one do appreciate it.
I have come to live by the saying “If the shoe fits, wear it, if not, throw it away”. It has liberated me from wearing what others say about me. Please don’t wear what good-meaning but thoughtless people, or anyone, says to you or about you unless YOU think you need to wear it. You know the truth about yourself or else you couldn’t write with the honesty and insight that you do.
I was going to share Glennon Melton here, and I see someone else already has. But on the off chance someone sees my comment and misses the other one I’ll do it anyway. This is the post of hers I think I saw first, and I even forgot it was she who wrote it. She’s an amazing woman for about a thousand different reasons I know of, and probably thousands more I don’t know.
http://momastery.com/blog/2013/06/21/quit-pointing-your-avocado-at-me/
I don’t watch news. I can not. I also do not have the strength it takes to know all the bad things. I do read news online – where I can filter and decide which stores to know about past a headline. My husband (finally!) understands he can not just blurt out all the news there is to me.
About you, I’ll tell you this: I don’t put up with a lot of people saying ‘fuck’ because, for fuck’s sake, it gets old sometimes, you know? But you get a pass every time. My mother? She puts up with nobody saying ‘fuck’ but she still gives you a pass. That’s how wonderful you are. You get a pass from the lady who never gives passes to anyone!
Thank you for having us here and being such a gracious hostess all these years. Sorry some guests are rude or pushy. I think some of them just don’t know any better. I think it’s great you are telling them, lovingly, to go fry a monkey!
xoxoxox
Thank you for being you and awesome and not perfect and everything you are. Thank you for inspiring a community of posts that I’m going to love to read because yeah, that’s it, all the weirdness gets stirred and loved and makes the batter better. So, just, thank you y’know for you, and for sharing, which I’m guessing you’re obsessing about but you wouldn’t be you if you didn’t care so hopefullly all the reassurance that comes after this post leaves you with an awesome afterglow.
This post did it for me for the Yes! That! thing it’s current but it’s weird cause the guy who wrote it sings country music and it’s just not my cup of tea, like, I like tea, but not that kind kinda thing.. but he wrote a song called Love is the Law and it speaks like the kindness thing you are speaking about that we all know but struggle to be sometimes. Anyway… Just.. Thanks. 🙂 and Zen hugs 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/jonathanbyrdmusic/posts/10153992392014466
Love this. Thanks for inviting us into your house. (Also, all I could hear in my head as I read this was, “Sing- Sing a Song! Sing out loud- Sing out LOOOOONG!’)
Respect. This is your house. Well said. ✌
This was lovely. Thank you.
Blah, blah, blah. People can fuck off. Sure, they can ask for support/reposts/retweets, but this is your blog, your place, and you don’t owe anyone a damn thing. You don’t have to peel away your skin for every single asshole who thinks they deserve it, and, contrary to popular belief, just because you have published words on the internet doesn’t make you public property. If anyone is concerned about where you stand on anything then they are not reading enough of your work. So fuck them.
Keep on, you. Just being you.
This is the most moving, true thing, I’ve read in a long time. As it happens, my son wrote it. I read it at my father’s funeral.
~~~
There is a common belief that a good man is hard to find. However, with all due respect to Ms. O’Conner, she never met Poppy. He left good men in his wake: it’s his legacy. Poppy was not ostentatious. He did not brag about being wise or good. He simply was, and through us, still is. His wisdom and goodness was cobbled together by chance and rhyme, experience and introspection, and Heaven knows we’ve got an entire poster full of these phrases.
Like the speaker in one of Poppy’s favorite poems, he eschewed wealth and public adoration for the love of an excellent woman and a joyous and healthy family. He did not covet what he could not have and instead sought to create, build, and mold what he and his family needed. He had simple desires, which were usually fulfilled by a glass of good wine and some better company.
One of the hardest lessons a man can learn, I learned from Poppy. I couldn’t have been much older than 6 or 7 – still young enough to throw tantrums, but old enough to know better. While caring for me in what has come to be known as “The Old House,” Poppy asked me if I wanted a walk or a nap. Being so little and unconditioned for mountain hikes, I loathed Poppy’s walks, and a nap is the natural born enemy to all little boys. I refused both with all the maturity of a whiney and self-indulgent brat who believes grandparents should capitulate to all his whims. Poppy, chuckling as he spoke the next words, said to me, “Sometimes you’ve gotta make hard choices.” Ultimately the decision was made for me, and I took both a nap and a walk; however, this willful plodding through difficult situations with quiet dignity and grace was Poppy’s specialty, and it is a lesson I am forced to put to use now.
I am hearing the gentle coos and grunts of my sleeping infant son as I write this, and it is for his sake that I am not present to speak these words. It is the application of Poppy’s grace and wisdom that binds me to Eben and what is best for him, so that through me he too will know a fraction of the man that was his great-grandfather, so that he too will be a good man.
Keep singing your beautiful, demented, decidedly off beat song. I am a huge fan of it and I know I am not alone.
“YES! THIS EXACTLY … That was amazing … In both the message and the writing!!!!
“A world in which there are monsters, and ghosts, and things that want to steal your heart is a world in which there are angels, and dreams and a world in which there is hope.”
This is a quote from Neil Gaiman, who is one of my favorite authors. His book, American Gods, helped me work through the death of my mother, although I cannot explain why – it just did. (I was reading it or had just finished when I got the news. Another book that helped me years later was Christopher Moore’s Dirty Job.) The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a Gaiman book that is one of the most beautiful short novels I’ve ever read. I cried at the end, happy-ish tears and I don’t even know why. I share these things because they make me happy and as avid reader I often find solace in stories. Sometimes solace I didn’t even know I needed.
Thank you for being you and for sharing with us.
This is my first comment here, but I adore your writing. The quote that makes me strong comes from Tom Robbins, and often serves as a kick in the ass/loving reminder:
“The word that allows yes, the word that makes no possible.
The word that puts the free in freedom and takes the obligation out of love.
The word that throws a window open after the final door is closed.
The word upon which all adventure, all exhilaration, all meaning, all honor depends.
The word that fires evolution’s motor of mud.
The word that the cocoon whispers to the caterpillar.
The word that molecules recite before bonding.
The word that separates that which is dead from that which is living.
The word no mirror can turn around.
In the beginning was the word and that word was
CHOICE.”
From “Still Life With Woodpecker”
I love your honesty here—and people are wrong to ask you to fund them or charities, etc. That is YOUR decision and no one should guilt you into that. On another note—anything about depression & anxiety issues interests me. I was honored to be included in the Surviving Mental Illness Through Humor book (“Rock Bottom”) and occasionally write on my blog about my depression and body dysmorphic disorder (along with my eating disorder—yeah, I’m just a barrel of fun). A post about this was featured recently on The Mid—thought you might like it if you get a chance to read it. Anyway, thanks for being such an inspiration to us all. I look forward to meeting you at the Books & Books signing in Miami in the fall. http://www.themid.com/wellness/i-am-embracing-my-inner-beauty-for-my-children-but-mostly-for-myself?u=unknown (The actual title on the site is “What Happened When I Finally Stopped Counting Calories And Embraced Life” by Marcia Kester Doyle)
Fabulous. – That’s what you are, and I personally thank you for being so. Sing on, write on, and always be true to your house, for we most certainly appreciate it. 🙂
Spoken word poetry. This is beautiful and you are too Jenny. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltun92DfnPY
I love your post. I try very hard to be kind, but… I had something of my own to add to your list of “If you don’t repost this, you’re ashamed of Jesus” list. I have a lot of disabilities and inner demons of my own, but the one thing I like about me is my hair. If one more person gives me the stink-eye for not donating my hair to Locks of Love, kind words are not what is going to come out of me. I don’t hate bald kids with cancer! My hair is my cape, my shroud, my force field of protection, I need it. And Jenny, thank you for all that you are. Love you.
Sing your song please, you have a beautiful voice. <3
I also loved what another commenter said earlier, “I feel shitty enough on a daily basis on my own, I don’t need your help”. I feel that way all the time and never realized it until I read that.
Thanks Jenny.
Thank you for standing up for yourself and not apologizing with this post. Please read Momastery on FB and http://www.momastery.com – another community that focuses on KINDNESS – lifting each other up instead of being judgy, jealous, and generally shitty to each other. Targeted at women primarily, and religious but not shoving church down your throat. Every time I read you, I laugh and I have a better day. When I read Momastery, sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry (mostly with joy), but I have a better day. Many hugs.
I had a “Yes, THIS!” moment today. It was when I read http://misszoot.com/god-wont-save-this-country-but-maybe-empathy-might/ post. You go, girl! I agree on all counts.
I get this. Completely and wholly get this as a blogger…as someone who get’s pounded with “can you do this” or “can you write about this” a bajillion times which is about 1% of how often you’d be asked. Thank you for writing this. Completely makes sense. Do you. That’s all. Do you and the rest will fall the way it’s supposed to fall. And Kindness…always wins.
Yes! This Exactly!
I am glad my blog isn’t that popular. And you only need to write about what you feel you should write about . I rarely venture into debates over current events or “good causes” with the exception of the recent Rachel D because I truly hate a liar. Mainly because it is a no win situation. You feel bullied and they are never satisfied. Carry on… you are right this is your house and you make your own rules!
Well said! Hurrah for kindness, honesty and originality — all of which you have in lorryloads.
Also, these guys make me happy – read a little trivia about the originals:
https://triviahappy.com/articles/the-top-11-questions-about-the-original-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtle-costumes
This is excellent. Thank you for pouring your heart on the screen. I love your blog.
Missed you. Glad you’re back. As always, a thoughtful post. Please don’t change.
Don’t apologize. You don’t owe any of these people an apology.
Take a moment and rock out. You deserve it!
There are three things I believe about the topic of this post, and all three of them come under the heading of “How to Act.”
If it is not utterly unreasonable for a person to ask you for something, then they should probably ask. The worst thing that can happen is that you say no. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
It is your unrestricted, guilt-free right to say no to any and all who ask. No explanations are needed, no feelings need be hurt, and no one is entitled to think less of you for saying no.
Anyone who would use prophylactic guilt against you as a psychological weapon to extort your support for their cause is a bad person. Or, at least, a person behaving badly.
100% exactly right. You do you, and nobody else gets to tell you who you is. (are. is.)
I thought of something else that might make others smile like it did me. I grew up in an affluent Long Island suburb, and our church takes up a whopping half a block.Much of that is lawn. A few years ago they planted a garden on the big side yard — and they’re growing fresh vegetables for a local homeless shelter. When they first started the garden there, a neighbor protested — and when he found out what they were doing with the produce, he made a donation instead.
Husband: sorry honey, but my mom did it again. Only this time it was a couple of metal rosters she left for you. Instead of moldy books hidden on our bookshelf.
Me: I HAVE to have those chickens! I LOVE them! If only they were 5 feet tall!
This is so far down on your comments I’m sure you won’t see this. 🙂 But wanted to at least put it out there anyway. Seriously, you are my hero. You have helped me so much with my depression. You’ve helped me to not be so ashamed. You’ve helped me to talk about it with my family and some friends. I wish I was as brave as you. Without you I would hide the medicine I take, I wouldn’t talk about it with my husband, I would be ashamed to ask for help during those really rough times, etc. etc. You freed me. You liberated me. YOU did that. I knew nothing about what I was dealing with. I didn’t understand what triggers were or how to avoid them. Because of you, I know that info now. Please don’t listen to the people that are down on you. I would guess you helped a ton of people as much as you’ve helped me. I would bet that someone is ALIVE because of you. You help so many people and I am just a tiny little drop in the bucket of those people. There is no way I can express how much you have helped me, and how much you mean to me. (I am not a writer) 🙂 I hope, that on your rough days, you can just feel how much we all love you. And how much you mean to all of us. <3
the only thing I will ask you to do is let me make you cake. love your blog, don’t change a thing.
Amen!!! Keep on doing what you do. You make my day!
Jenny babe. I know that so many other people will be with me on this: You sing the song that is in my heart. The one that I never knew the words to & could only hum. Keep playing to your own beat, sweet lady. That’s why we’re all here. You goddamned magnificent, beautiful crazy met all chicken lady, you. Much love xxx
There are days where the world overwhelms me and you brighten my day just by being you. Championing every cause on the planet will get you almost equal parts derision and accolades, but it just isn’t possible. You’re right to care for yourself. People have too many expectations and it always comes down to a choice between everyone else or yourself. Choosing yourself isn’t selfish. It’s self preservation. You’re a fantastic woman and you’re doing wonderfully in making the world a brighter place.
If I did this right, this link will work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw
If not, go to youtube and type in the following search terms: “cartoon empathy bear”. This has helped me reach out to people who are suffering.
Hear, hear. Well done.
You and the blog you have created have given me many things. A person that shows me that it ok that I am a little (sometimes a lot) “off”. A place where I see other readers like you and like me and it is if I have found my tribe. A place which helped me on my healing myself journey. A safe, wonderful, funny placethat would be ruined if you catered to a million others wants and requests and not your own heart. Sorry. I rambled. I do that. I should have just said “Be you. We love you”.
“But if I’m always singing everyone else’s song then there’s no room for mine. I have a song to sing”. This might be exactly what I needed to hear for a totally unrelated reason, so I wanted to thank you. And I’m borrowing it..
You said it perfectly.
Your voice and your song are the one we’re here to hear.
You are a singer, not a radio.
Go you!!
Yes, this is exactly what I was thinking but I didn’t have the words. I love you Jenny.
Wow. Just wow… who does that?!?! Seriously. You are ONE person, doing YOUR thing… Jesus! I enjoy reading YOUR shit… i’ll pick and choose what other shit I want to read 🙂 not what other people demand you write about. Tell them to write their own blog/book!
And this is why I LOVE reading your blog. Well done! Keep writing!
You are the best–your example gives me courage and company in the dark.
And that is why I LOVE reading your blog! Well done! Well written! Keep writing!
I wrote/assembled this Tumblr post yesterday after a friend and I had both had a rough day after weeks and months of too many rough days. I’ve re-read it like 6 times today because I needed the reminding that this is just a day and not the end of my story.
http://gloryfink.tumblr.com/post/122300387085/after-your-day
My perspective is that you are a lovely person. And you have a mostly beautiful song that I believe people should listen to… when your song is not so beautiful, I believe people NEED to listen to you.
blah blahblah blah blah blahblah blah SEVERED BOOBIE BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAHBLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
😉
XXOO
Well said, gorgeous. The weight of the world is not meant for your shoulders to carry no matter how strong and/or shapely. You have your own world to carry, and that’s quite enough. Sometimes you carry that world straight and sometimes it wobbles, but you carry it with humor and grace and probably some fanfuckingtastic curse words that I’d nick in a heartbeat.
You do what you can with what you have as best you can, and you do an amazing job. The rest will stay where it lands. Now go hug a scratchy-bitey and breathe. <3
Just keep doing the beauty you do. Your muse is your own and can’t be bullied into following a different path.
Uhmm, I didn’t know that posting a link from Tumblr would do that. Eeeek! Sorry. Please feel free to delete this and my previous note with the embarassingly long Tumblr embed.
Sidenote: I totally need to learn how to do this embedding thing with Tumblr and my WordPress blog. Not being able to share stuff from Tumblr on my blog is one of the main reasons I stopped posting on my own blog. So thank you for enabling this happy yet embarassing accident.
Again, PLEASE free to delete this.
“it’s more difficult than you think to make charcoal
it’s also pretty hard to remember life’s marvellous
but there it is guttering choking then soaring
in the mirrored room of this consciousness
it’s practically a blaze of pure sensibility”
-Frank O’Hara
This is mine for those times when nothing seems to work out and everything is wrong. That guttering and choking may drag on forever, but it’ll soar eventually.
WORD
And Prince is rad!
Since I believe you should only speak your own truths, I didn’t imagine your article was about me. Perhaps my ego isn’t high enough to assume I should dictate another person’s agenda. I might fight about their agenda (anti-gay etc). Thank you for writing what you need to say.
As for the things I think others should read.. easy one.
::::In 1973 Leonard Nimoy wrote a book called You & I. I was 17. I still remember where I was when I read one passage.
I am not immortal.
Whatever I put of for later
May never be.
Whoever doesn’t know now
That I love them
May never know.::::
It haunted me. I almost obsessed over it. And then I incorporated it into who I am and I learned to make sure there were no unfinished business. That I never missed the opportunity to tell people I cared. That I never ever withheld giving love until I knew it was returned, and that ultimately it didn’t matter how the other person felt. Love isn’t bought, not even with being loved back. ::::
Before Beyonce and through Juanita (who both live on my desk) and from your first book to your newest blog post I have loved the way you write and share your thoughts. Please don’t ever stop being you.
Stick to your guns. Don’t ever feel pressured to do what YOU don’t feel you need to. I was once told that I cared too much – the sadness I felt was my burden for having a sensitive and loving heart. I struggled with that for many years. Tried to be unemotional, distant, uncaring, but in the end my heart – and soul – won. I can’t help that I feel TOO much. Someone has to with all the evil in this world. It is people like us who care so much that make it a place for others to rest, or hide, in a setting of safety, love, and support. It hurts to love and it hurts to hate. The difference is in outcome – love has far more dividends and benefits than hate ever will. I struggle with chronic illnesses, depression, self hate, and an all around cynical view of the world. I don’t want to pass that on to my children. I want them to see light and love by my actions. But I also want them to know that if they do feel like me I am here for them – I can relate and I can be a shoulder for them to rest on. I want all my friends to know that. We can’t fight everyone’s battle. Some days I’m doing good to just fight my own. I would never ask someone who is clearly fighting their own battles to spend their energies to help me fight mine. It’s a nice thought but anyone who’s been a fighter as long as me knows that you have to pick your battles. I love your spirit , tenacity, humbleness, and courage. It shows in every post you write. And that is why I will always read every word. You are one of a kind and that’s hard to find these days.
I read this post for pure enjoyment and sometimes as a fellow warrior in this depression/anxiety battle. Please keep doing what you do as it makes many of us happy. My songs that gets me through a lot of stuff are: Roar from Katie Perry; I run from Melissa Ethridge and Bitch by Meridith Brooks.
I don’t have anything helpful to offer; but thank you for introducing me to Boggle The Owl.
And thank you for being you. Because of you, I can say “Depression lies.” And even if I can’t make myself believe it right then, the words are still there. It lies, it lies it lies.
Thank you Jenny. Also thank you for your cats. They’re awesome and my kid thinks they’re extra-super-awesome.
The unfortunate thing about all of this, to me, is that you don’t owe us anything. But people are taking advantage of your kindness by trying to guilt you into using your influence to help their cause – which, ultimately, is probably well-intentioned, but practically speaking, is wholly selfish. Not everyone believes in the same causes equally, nor do they need to. We all balance each other out.
You have a hugely loyal fan-base who love what you write, and identify with it strongly. The few who pressure you would be there regardless of what you posted. They’re the loud person behind you at the mini-putt tapping his foot because his kid’s getting antsy. They’re the person with their hand out waiting for the hurrying cashier to give her her change. They’re just INTENSE PEOPLE. It won’t be the end of the world if they get offended by something inoffensive and decide to leave, they will probably come and go anyway. I’m happy to hear you stand up to that, because it’s like a never-ending wave that gets bigger the more you surf it. Wait that’s a bad analogy. Like a snowball that’s rolling downhill – if you don’t stop it, it’ll just keep getting bigger and bigger. Yeah, better analogy haha. Anyway, good on you for stopping that avalanche!
I did want to contribute a couple things…..
First, Hyperbole-and-a-Half’s Depression posts, which I’ve seen being linked by people all over the place (and rightly so):
Part 1: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.ca/2011/10/adventures-in-depression.html
Part 2: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.ca/2013/05/depression-part-two.html
This is one of my favourite illustrations about how I like someone to react to me when I suffer anxiety or depression episodes: http://www.robot-hugs.com/nest/
And for some reason this song ranges from making me feel at peace to having a full-out cleansing release of emotions. I think I just imagine the house of stone and light as being my soul, a stone building in a forest with no roof, just patchy sunlight pouring in from between the trees mid-summer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIa9UEXd98Q
One more thing I just remembered ….. I loved it when I first saw it, and I watch it again occasionally. It inspires me and just feels so .. uplifting 🙂 (Be sure to watch till the end!!) https://www.ted.com/talks/ze_frank_s_web_playroom
Hope some people get some enjoyment out of those links. 🙂
Something that has stuck with me for three years now. So profound that it’s glued to my monitor – “Look for the light.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sauCsC9XUxY You can’t hate if you spend every moment looking for the light. Thank you Karen Walrond.
This should be a TED talk. I loved it
I come here to read what you are thinking, what you are feeling, and what you are doing. Please keep posting whatever you want, because I love it all. I’m sorry if people give you shit, but let us know when they do; we will gore them with our Double Unicorn Horns of Bloggessian Majesty!
Be proud of yourself for writing this – it took courage and honesty and truth. I love your song and hope you never stop singing it. When I read “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened” I cried, I laughed, I felt like I wasn’t alone. I’ve dealt with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, perfectionism ( or some odd combo that doesnt have a name yet? I’m still trying to figure it out…) and I’d never read or heard of an experience with it that felt so similar. Your voice for YOUR song is perfect.
I have been wanting to start a blog/website about cruelty free, natural, Eco friendly cosmetics for like two years (insert perfectionism, procrastination, and anxiety over what people will think here) and I feel like I get what your saying. That world is full of bias, guilt, “do this if you really love animals or that if you love your health or the planet”, and it’s exhausting. I have a tendency to want to do it all, save everything and everyone in one fell swoop and I can’t. I hear you loud and clear about knowing your own limits. I’ve spent nights crying over some of the stuff I’ve read or seen and realized sometimes I just can’t. It’s not that I don’t care, it’s that emotionally I cannot handle certain things and I often feel guilty about that. But your making me realize that by honouring my own limits I will have more ability to focus on what is my potential song and change the world where I can with that. And that’s enough. So thank you.
This post may have been scary for you, but you did it and I’m proud. You have given a voice, again, to so many. You have allowed us to see that it’s okay to not focus on every little injustice of the world, each of us has our own path, our own way to change the world, and it doesn’t need to be done through guilt. It needs to be done because it is ours, for whatever reason. Your an inspiration, please never stop writing!!!! Xoxo Keirstyn
I am sure that was really hard to write, and you are feeling a little bit sorry/notsorry. Personally, I can’t stand when my social media is one bit list of people trying to sell me their latest greatest stuff. I just want to lighten my load and get in other people’s business. I appreciate how you keep everybody’s cause off your blog. Being a chronic people pleaser, I would give a piece of me to everyone until there was nothing left.
Eurydice by H.D. (who was a bad ass herself and wrote beautifully as she dealt with her demons)
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/182485
The last stanza has been my mental reminder, my call to rally, and I thank H.D. for giving me these words and images to remind myself of my own strength.
“At least I have the flowers of myself,
and my thoughts, no god
can take that;
I have the fervour of myself for a presence
and my own spirit for light;
and my spirit with its loss
knows this;
though small against the black,
small against the formless rocks,
hell must break before I am lost;
before I am lost,
hell must open like a red rose
for the dead to pass”.
I like your house just as it is. No need to repaint or renovate. As long as I can pull up a chair on your porch once in a while and listen to your stories, we’re cool.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Thank you for all you write and for all that you do and don’t do. Never feel bad. Follow your own path. I love reading this blog because it is a ray of light in the darkness. You give me hope that humanity is still salvageable and ok. Never change who you are because someone guilts you. I love you just the way you are and reading your thoughts makes me a better person.
My quote j live by is out of some old Taoism book I have. It’s a passage about disaster and it says “Whether we remain ash or become the Phoenix is up to us.” It reminds me that happiness is a choice and we must look within ourselves to find it. It won’t magically land in our laps one day when we have a big enough bank account or enough friends or everything we dreamed of. We can be happy in the darkest of places if we love ourselves and just believe. Reminding myself of this helps me to carry on when things get tough. And it helps me to rationalize the bad by knowing that as long as I find a way to walk away from it better than at least it served some good.
Thank you again for being you!!!!
What has gotten me through many a bad day and continues to keeps me true to myself is a quote from RuPaul: “What other people think of me is none of my business.” Hopefully, if anyone here needs it, they will take it and own it and run with it.
This is one of those posts that really gets me. You’re amazeballs. Never stop being yourself, and the haters can suck eggs. XOXO
I cannot thank you enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. There are many times when you give me hope. This is another one of those times.
Hear, hear! I’ve never before noticed how much that looks like “Hear, heart!” Thanks for opening my eyes to all kinds of things. I plan to keep growing right along with everybody else.
you do not have to explain yourself to me…I get it, I know. I come to watch the show. far be it for me to tell you what to do or say….I ain’t the boss of you.
I suppose I could share a few things that cheer me up and make me think. The entirety of the Discworld book series, especially ‘The Fifth Elephant,’ does both. The video games (hear me out) ‘Bastion’ and ‘Transistor’ are thought-provoking, beautiful, eye-opening, and provide music that never fails to revitalize me to boot. On a completely different track, ‘Guns, Germs, and Steel’ really opened my eyes to the original causes of the power imbalances between the cultures of the world.
you are awesome, Blossom!!! Thanks!
There are songs in my brain too
there are many, too much and more.
But I usually hear just one or two
singing more loudly, a scream, a roar.
A big scary lament of pain and despair
dripping from the mind and ripping from the heart.
When that tune’s up I gasp for more air
but there’s nothing, I’m alone. I feel taken apart.
Then sometimes a whistle as wind at the park,
or in one of those places where all seems asleep.
A winterly numbness that snows on my bark,
killing me softly without making a peep.
Or maybe the thumping metallic battlecry
of all the bad things that I’ll make to you all.
A slight, a bump, my sensible skin. Why?
Why can’t them see my limits before I fall?
And then again jazzy variations
of all the kind of feeling a bit mad,
with various degrees of painful emotions:
call it depression ar maybe a bit sad.
But happens so preciously, amidst this cacophony,
that sometimes a chipper chime of a bell
(with surprising volume and beautiful clarity)
tinges my dark tones with color pastel.
Sometimes it’s a moment or maybe for weeks.
Sometimes I don’t know who’s even singing.
Sometimes I would like to be the one who speaks.
Sometimes it’s you and that’s fucking awesome. No, really… Thank you.
You had me at “Knock knock, motherfucker.”
I have struggled to find the words to articulate what grace allowed you to share here. This is by far the best post I have read all year, anywhere. Thank you for being you.
Bravo. Good for you. I live the same way — if I read about and re-post every horrible thing I agree with not agreeing with, then that becomes what I get out of life, and what my friends get out of me. Life needs to be more than that. Bravo for you being true to yourself! And no, it doesn’t make you a bitch. Just smart. 🙂
You brought me James Garfield and ultimately my wife. I love your house.
This may be the best post I’ve ever read- by anyone. Ever. I am breathing easier. Thank you.
Now I just love you more than ever. Well done.
You absolutely cannot be all things to all people. Do what you do (and are obviously good at). Having a voice does not make you responsible for voicing all the things for all people. Not as though you need validation from a random stranger-but in case you do- I think you’re dandy just they way you are (wonderfully strange, self depricating, and randomly enthused about taxidermy). Good job, you.
Chuck the rude comments in the Fucket Bucket and move on 🙂 I LOVE YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!
I read your posts and love your site BECAUSE you don’t fill it will a billion causes and such. I love your stories and your sense of humor. It’s your blog so you should only be writing what you feel like. Otherwise it stops being a blog and becomes a soap box and that can get real boring.
There’s a couple of quotes that have stuck with me over the years. This is probably the main one.
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms.
Henry David Thoreau, Walden: Or, Life in the Woods
Darling, we love you. We get you. You are the friend that most of us need on any given day even if you have no idea who we are. I’ve had a shitty day and to know other people, like you, have them on the same level is comforting. I’ve lost real life friends over having an opinion I feel strongly about but not going the distance insofar as raging against machines to defend that opinion to the highest levels of government. That happened to me. “If you’re not willing to go protest against these issues, then you shouldn’t have this opinion.” I culled that shit from my life. Those are shitty people. I like having friends who allow my opinion (even if they don’t share it), my ability to express it, my choice not to bang on doors to make sure everyone knows my opinion, and why it’s so hard for me just to speak up when given the floor on my opinion. Those people are my friends. Those people get me. I have thoughts and when I see an opportunity to enlighten a person, I do. When I see that a person cannot be swayed, sometimes I don’t bother. When I see someone spreading ignorance on my special charity or issue, I might step in and lay down some law. Jenny, just do Jenny. We love you.
Thank you. You make me smile.
Can this post be the one I scream “yes, exactly!” to? I don’t understand people demanding things of others.
The internet means we can be anything. To me, that means that being our truest self is an amazing opportunity.
Words fail. I just fucking love you. That is all.
This is your house, your blog. We come here because we want more of YOU. It’s not your job to be a platform to hold up everything else that is good and right because nobody should even try to bear that weight on their shoulders. Like what you like, share what you share and you have every right not to let a bully emotionally guilt trip you into doing anything. There are other places and times for them. We’re here for you, only you, and nothing but the you-ness that speaks to all of us.
Props to you for setting healthy boundaries for yourself, and then props for clicking Publish on this post.
Amen, Jenny. Amen.
This is why I read you – for YOURSELF – and because I know what you write is your truth, not what someone else said you should write or what you want me to think. You are awesome.
So much strength here- knowing how to set the tone in your house. I am constantly finding new admiration for you. You may not see this in all the din, but I really look up to you and hope you know how wonderful this place is that you’ve created.
For my piece of the song, there were two things that came to me when I felt like I was at my end. The first was a quote that may be too saccharine, but… “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, she became a butterfly.” I kind of think of it more like the phoenix than the caterpillar, since it seems to happen in cycles, but the fact that I have always been stronger on the other side? Struggling caterpillars just have to hold on a little longer, you know?
Also, I found a book during my last and biggest hurdle. The author is David Mack and it is a graphic novel series called Kabuki. It may only be available digitally now, but it is phenomenally gorgeous, and the book called The Alchemy was all about that transformation and reinventing yourself through creativity and love and curiosity. It literally saved me, with incredible art to boot.
Thank you for being you, and stay kind =)
“My life is my message”
I think you are simply, brilliantly brave.
Something that is good and important is this project, which is for young people who struggle with depression: http://www.projectsemicolon.com/
Something that always makes me laugh and I share with my students when we all need a little pick me up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw
I think it’s also important for people to realize that a lot of people, themselves included, would be exhausted if you spent all your time posting links to other fundraisers or talking about how awful the world is. We all need a break sometimes and that’s what I think this blog can provide. Sometimes it’s good to see we’re a community and agree when tragedy strikes, but other times it’s good to just laugh and think about how much it costs to pay a lawyer when you stab someone in the leg. Idk. I feel you though and I fully support keeping this site the way you want it to be, because it’s for you and you call the shots.
Maybe once a year near the holidays or something you could make a post with all those fundraisers? Just as a way to let people help if they want to. I’m not sure. But the point stands that only you can decide how to run this site and what to focus on and it’s icky of others to try and emotionally manipulate other results. They don’t seem to take this site in the spirit that it’s presented.
First SHAME ON YOU for spending a single second worrying about what everyone wants from you! Your writing is wonderful, funny, sad, helpful, kind, interesting and weird. And I hope it always reflects YOUR thoughts as you see fit to publish them. I miss you when you aren’t posting (and fret about you, too). Hold tight to your voice and song…it is making a difference! My recent mantra that is remarkably fast acting (repeated many times a day): “Day by day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.” It is like having your own personal magic!
Love this. You go girl.
I cling to “depression is a lying bitch” . I think it came from you. Or via you. You are a magnificent writer. Please keep on in your own voice. You are BRILLIANT. In many ways.
This is your thing, do what you want to with it and the heck with anyone else! You are awesome and have gone far and beyond in contributing to the well being of others, so be satisfied with yourself and what you’ve accomplished in your life – those who are lucky enough to have a connection with you in “real life” are fortunate blessed to do so, and those who “know you” through your writing are lucky to have experienced a little bit of the shadow of who you are.
Clapping loudly from California. xoxo
Lovely lady, I totally admire your self control (I know, how often do YOU hear that?!). I would have said “I don’t work for you, I am self-employed for a reason, this is MY blog about MY opinions and if you don’t like what I say I really don’t give a damn. When i become an elected official or take a job working for you then you get to tell me what I can and cannot do”……but I am kind of a bitch like that.
The whole reason that I read your blog and book(s) is to hear what YOU have to say. Please don’t stop saying it.
P.S. If you ever want to unload that chicken I would delightedly give it a loving home
The only person you need to please in your blog is yourself. You are not obligated to write any more than what YOU want. And we love to read it! Great post.
For several years I was a columnist for my local paper. I did a good job. I won a couple of Associated Press awards, and I had strangers approach me to tell me how my columns resonated with them. I also had people telling me that I should write about high gas prices (as if it would lower them) and a plethora of other topics that I can’t remember right now, but that had nothing to do with the things I wrote about.
Opinions are like assholes – everyone has one. That does not mean that we who can write owe it to them to be their mouthpiece.
Keep using your own words. Use your words! You’ll go wrong sometimes, but it will be your very own unique wrong. And mostly you are right, and always you are honest, funny, thoughtful, and sometimes heart crushing.
I was first introduced to your blog by a friend who shared the Beyonce post. That was my ‘laugh out loud uncontrollably in the presence of strangers’ moment. Now I always laugh at the sight of giant metal chickens. And I’m a little disturbed to notice HOW MANY of them I see in my limited travels and I wonder – were they there all along, or are they gaining on us???
Oh Jenny 🙁
I didn’t know various people were putting you under so much pressure to use your platform for [x]. Comes with being a successful and well known writer, I guess. I presume when people are doing this, they aren’t taking into account all the other people doing it to you as well…
I completely understand why you had reservations posting this, but I’m really happy you asserted yourself and laid down the law(son) (I’m so, so sorry). You’re absolutely right – it is your house. And no one should be trying to tell you how to run it.
I’ll leave this here, as I thought it was cool: http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2015/03/17/power-responsibility-why-ms.-marvel-matters
I don’t always agree with what you say, but I believe in your right to say it. I respect your opinions and your perspective. Here is my go to quote for when things get dim in my world, it is from Emily Dickinson – “Hope, it is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the song without the words, and never stops at all.” – I’ve been in the dark place, and I never want to go back. So when things start to get “wonky” I just try to remember where I was, see where I am and focus on where I want to go. And I hope. Quietly. Deeply and continually. Thanks for the platform you offer to speak and be heard and the safe place we can go when we just need to be with others of like minds. You are appreciated.
“I listen. I share. I think.”
Never stop, your words have been a comfort, they have brought tears, and a smile.
i would that there were more like you in my life.
Thank-you for each and every word, the silly ones and the serious ones, they have been sign posts no my path.
Thank you Jenny, just thank you.
Good for you! Keep those boundaries, it’s your writing, it’s your space. PS- Boggle is awesome!
i love you. and i’m grateful that you allow us to come into your home and be together. we’re all our people.
I just wanted to say that I love you.
You absolutely cannot be everything for everybody. You can only be you. And you are a beautiful and perfect you.
That’s all.
Sing, Bloggess. Stay true to your own song. You are being heard and have a beautiful, lovely, honest voice. Sing.
So much love, to bursting. Add to your resume professional heart warmer.
Choose your battles. That is the way to get things done.
Your blog is like a hug sometimes. Thanks for that.
Thank you. Just thank you. I need what you do, and have been doing and I didn’t know it until I read your book. And I need to remember that’s it’s okay if I don’t spend every minute of every overwhelmed with the thing that are crappy about the world.
Your poss are one of the happy things in my life because of who you are. Stay true to yourself. I’m going to keep reading.
You are the best. Read this and thought of all you say and hope this helps someone.
https://hpwritesblogs.wordpress.com/2015/06/18/www-thesemicolonproject-com/
I love you. Love your face. Love your house. You’ve helped me through some of my own shit, and for that I appreciate you. Thanks. That is all. 🙂
I’ve learned I don’t need to apologize for my thoughts or feelings. Ever. They’re mine.
Well written dear Bloggess!
I think in general we are to big on absolutes. You MUST do this or this will happen. So not good fur us! I will tell you that your writing has helped me immensely. I enjoy all your hilarious, still giggling 2 days later, stories but what’s really helped me is your frank and honest discussion on depression and anxiety.
These are not conditions I suffer from but my step-daughter does. Because I don’t I have no frame of reference for what it really feels like or how to help her but because of you I feel like I have a little bit more of an understanding and that’s been so helpful with helping her get the help she needs.
Keep writing what you want your way. (It’s why I read and follow you) You do what you can, because that is all you can do. The rest can go suck it. YOU are NOT responsible for their feelings. I completely understand about charities. You give to one and the mob comes running with their hands out. For some people the only way to feel special is to “know” someone that is. Even if they really don’t. And real friends wouldn’t put that bullshit guilt on you for something they want. If they want something written about, they should write it their own damn selves. Asking you is just damn lazy.
I adore you. I promise only to stalk you by reading everything you write. 🙂 I like to pretend you’ve read my comment and laugh. Or at least feel better. But I’m NOT asking anything from you. 😀
Can’t express how much this resonated with me other than to say I’m typing this with my heart racing and maybe a tear in my eye (those happy ones that flow when I’m lucky enough to stumble across people and ideas so closely aligned to my personal values). Thank you! Thank you for letting us be guests in this awesome house of yours. Thank you singing YOUR song! Feeling lucky that my song is often similar and, even when it’s very different, your posts make that okay and challenge me to think, question, and appreciate the difference.
(I was in and out of psych wards for a year. Finally I was placed in a partial hospitalization program, and with the help of a phenomenal therapist, began to get well. I wasn’t just coping, but living. A year later, my life is vastly different. I wrote this letter to that therapist last week.)
Thank you so much. By being a caring, genuine, and determined soul, you managed to keep me in an amazing program. APH helped me heal tremendously, and I didn’t intend for it to work. I formed bonds and friendships with people experiencing the same issues, and I didn’t intend to. But I did.
Since finishing the program, I’ve done more stuff, bit by bit, that I didn’t intend to do. Honestly, I thought I’d mostly just stay at home, protected and safe. But I didn’t, and the activities I’ve added, one step at a time, have actually made me feel more protected and safe. Because I’ve bonded with more people and the world beyond me.
I returned to work, and I’ve not only found purpose there, I’ve actually made a difference, and I am kind of indispensable. I value my coworkers, and they value me. I didn’t intend for that to happen.
I’ve become involved in community issues, stepping outside myself for the greater good. When I do that, I form connections, and I actually discover more about myself. I didn’t intend for that to happen.
I step out of my comfort zone to spend time with family. I reach out in a kind and loving way to my parents, siblings, nieces, not expecting anything in return, hoping to heal rifts, because it’s the right thing to do. I didn’t intend for that to be a possibility.
As I push myself, little by little, I trust myself more and more. I realize who I really am, that I have a very good mind, that I have the ability to use kindness and humor and intelligence to help others, or to just deal with them. No longer do I feel a lack of identity, a need to pattern myself after someone else in who I present to the world. I am me, and that’s just fine.
I didn’t intend for any of this to happen. But it did. Once I restored my mental health, I freed up my mind to actually interact with the universe. The journey is not always easy, but the joy I often feel is amazing. The discoveries I make on a daily basis are fascinating. I’m so glad I’ve been willing to take some risks.
So many people love you because what you say is uniquely you and from the heart. Because we can relate to this, we realise that we can be unique and broken and special and deserving of the best as well.
You are so utterly spectacular. Just that. And thank you for the Boggle the Owl link because I sorely needed that right this minute.
I love your song. Please don’t ever change it for anyone other than yourself. Thank you for being here for all of us.
I don’t have a picture or anything but sometimes when it gets hard and I get down on myself, I imagine 9 saying, “you were fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.” And it usually helps.
Reblogged this on I lost my heart in Japan and commented:
Reblogging because it’s just one of the things described in it, an article you read while thinking “Yes, exactly!”
I wuv you.
I’m only posting because it disturbs me that there are currently 666 comments. Carry on.
I want to thank you for not posting about every issue that comes up. I have hundreds of other outlets I can turn to when I want to read about those things. I come to your blog because you always make me feel more hopeful. You can write about the hardest things with a sense of humor and when I’m going through a bad patch, that means the world to me. While so many people are talking about what’s wrong with the world, you take the time to point out what’s right. And sometimes that’s just a cute picture of your dog or a funny story about your family. And to me that’s just as important. I also wanted to share a quote with you that I reread often. It’s attributed to Kurt Vonnegut, but I read it on the interwebs, so I’m not positive that he actually wrote it 🙂 “Be soft. Don’t let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.”
You are an inspiration to a lot of us. As for things that make me smile and drag me back to the light? Lemurs. In fact I spend kind of a lot of time wanting to be a lemur… But that’s neither here nor there. This website might help explain. Or not. http://www.funnywildlife.com/funny-lemur.html
Yes! You keep doing your story. If those other people have causes they need to promote they should make their own blog about it.
Thank you for being you. Thank you for helping me find a place in the world where I don’t feel weird or that I don’t fit in. Thank you for showing my I can be honest to who I am. Thank you for being there at 3am and the depressions lies are their loudest. Thank you for all you do and for the things that you don’t realize you are doing. And thank you most of all for the Church of Bloggessianism. From the Illicit Mastermind of Spectacled Porpoise Regulations.
I’ve used the spoons discussions many times. When I’ve reached my limit on what I can do on a particular day I tell my husband “I’m out of spoons” and he knows what’s going on and that I need help.
This is from my list of pick me up links. It always makes me smile and on the plus side I now know the words to the Immigrant Song from Led Zeppelin.
http://www.dennyweb.com/viking_kittens.htm
Wonderfully written, Jenny. I have a little nugget of wisdom that I first read years ago in a horoscope. And then tripped upon it in a book about meditation. It’s very similar to your phrase, ‘depression lies’. It’s simply this: Don’t believe everything you think. Those words have had a powerful impact for me. Helps me take a deep breath and a step back.
Beautifully written!
This is what popped into my mind when you asked us to share our songs: https://youtu.be/fhbsb_tkGL0
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and taking a risk. All of this is true and I am glad you put it out there.
You are awesome. Love you, love your work, and no, you can’t sing everybody else’s song. Singing yours is good enough for me.
Why don’t the people, that are asking you “why don’t you…”, do what they are asking of you or anyone else? Talk is cheap and so is preaching. Doing isn’t. This is what I’ve learned about this type of thing. Everything is simple and easy in theory, but the real test is in practice. It really goes to show how pervasive a side liner mentality has become in society.
For a crazy person, you say some seriously sensible shit. 😉 This was brave. Thank you Jenny for being you.
I wasn’t going to comment on this, because I agree with and support everything said here. And it looks like most other people do too, and I didn’t see the point in echoing them. And then I remembered that when I am having anxiety, my SO spends forever telling me that I am okay for thinking this thought, for saying this thing, for doing whatever. And that it really does help. And when it’s a scary post to write, and you’re afraid you’ll get in trouble for it, I wanted to be another voice saying that you are allowed to not use as a platform to rage at the world for me or anyone else. This is your space, and the things you write make me happier on days when I’m not very happy. And that is enough.
Love you! Have always loved you! Will always love you! Although I don’t know you except on this blog and from your book but I just love you!
Dear Jenny,
I can’t share anything deep or wise or uplifting right now, because I spent the day holding a hysterically sobbing teething 3 month old, while trying not to lose my shit to despair. I do want to say, thank you- your post had me tearing up and crying in a good way for the first time today, and that in itself is such a relief. Thank you for your humor, kindness, and willingness to talk about the hard stuff. I’m glad we share a city, and hope to wave at you in person one day.
Hugs, S 🙂
Well said! 🙂
“Those brilliant posts exist. I hope I’ve written a few.” You have and you just did.
We cannot thank you enough for opening up your house to us…to not only let us know we’re not alone in our challenges…but to accept & face them with laughter & honesty. Love the day I found your website.
This. All of this. Bravo. Brilliantly stated. <3 KC
I’m here, because.. knock knock mofo! You are so relate-able and I feel like we’d get along so well if we were neighbors or something. Your writing is just perfect, and I love your first book, and anxious for the new one. I wish I had the voice.. the words to put on paper, a story of my own. I’m just not good with the words. And I’ve led a very boring, sheltered life.
I’m just glad you’re ok. Both of my favorite bloggers have health issues (yes you are one of them), and I start to worry when I don’t see you for awhile.
I sent the owl link about anxiety to a dear friend of mine who deals with it. I said, “I hope I’m a mouse and not a fox for you” and he replied “you’re a mouse with a sledgehammer.” Thank you Jenny for helping me become a better friend to the people I love.
I don’t even know how to thank you all for your support. It shouldn’t surprise me that you’re all magical but it always does a little.
We do what we can and reserve the privilege to write about/support those causes and ideas that touch us. I think that you often do more to support different ideas and charities than most people can or try to do. I once wrote to a graduating student that if I could, I would save all the kittens in the world and try to save her too, but I have only done what I could.
***Let’s be for real, I read your stuff for the profanity, laughter and cat pics.
Keep doing you, girl. Though, I will admit, now I do have an overwhelming sense of fear for the legs of all orange cats.
Yes, YES. Everything you wrote…yes.
At the risk of being “that person”, I want to tell you about an organization I really love–it’s called Random Acts (randomacts.org). Their goal is to conquer the world one random act of kindness at a time, and the way you wrote about kindness above, I couldn’t help but think of them. I’m not asking you to share info about them with your followers, or support a particular cause, or anything. I just know that I feel inspired when I read about what they’re doing, and I’m encouraged to find new ways to be intentionally kind to people around me. And I do a lot of my kindnesses anonymously, so that is possible, if you felt so inclined. 🙂
Thank you for standing up and talking about choosing kindness over negativity. There is so much wrong with the world, and if I think about it too long, I go a little nuts. So I switch my focus to being kind. Choosing love. Seeking hope. I can’t tell you how glad I am that you do, too. The world needs people who choose the light. Thank you for being one of them. I will gladly continue to read what you write!
I don’t have any words to a song too share, save to say the way you described what you do as a song moved me to tears. Beautifully said.
P.S. I’m very good at finding hiding places for bodies should you ever have need.
You DID make me laugh inappropriately on an airplane. Over the ExLax story.
What you do, talking about mental illness and depression, in the way that you do – not in a preachy way but a very real way as it happens; is amazing and very brave. It’s something that everyone needs. Most people will talk openly and matter of factly about their physical illnesses but if they have a blip in their brain chemistry, even though that’s basically no different to having a fault in any other body chemistry, suddenly it’s a shameful thing to keep secret and only mention as a confession. That’s silly and doesn’t help because it makes people with these problems feel isolated and inferior because they tend to think that they’re the only one. People being brave enough to talk about these things actually does a lot to help to remove the stigma that’s grown up around them and help make others realise that they’re not alone. That we’re all broken and fucked up and that’s ok.
You do this and that is beautiful. I don’t see how anyone could ask for more from you. And if you were to write about things that you don’t feel passionately about, that would come across as disingenuous and not only not help whatever cause you were trumpeting but also it would make intelligent people doubt your motives and detract from everything else that you say.
You can’t fight every battle. The battle that you ARE fighting is a noble one.
You do great things. I admire you a lot and hope that I can be as great as you one day.
One day about five years ago, I was at work avoiding a project and googled “funny blogs.” Somehow I managed to find my way to a post you had written about possibly putting laundry soap in the dishwasher and using a comforter to soak it up. I laughed hysterically and then spent way more time that I should admit going through you old big posts. At that time to me you were just a person in the internet that I thought was funny. In the five years since I have read everything you have posted, pre-ordered your book, bought another copy so I could attend a signing and have it signed, shared and retweeted things you’ve said and shared and overall come to feel like I was a part of a weird group of people who persevere despite setbacks like anxiety and depression. I had a one minute interaction with you at a bookstore so while I don’t know you, but I am extremely supportive of everything you do because not only are you talented, but you’re flawed like the rest of us, not afraid to share your flaws in hope of helping others and are genuinely a nice human being. Niceness is so underrated, especially on the Internet sometimes, that it’s refreshing to see someone who wants to only put good out in the atmosphere.
I cannot imagine the daily requests for causes. I sometimes feel bad I’m not sharing all of the sad children and animal posts on Facebook and Twitter but I’m not the kind of person who can handle sadness. I want to do good and be kind but I have to take care of myself and remind myself that it’s not my responsibility to save the world. It’s my responsibility yo be kind and treat others well.
Thank you for sharing so much with us. And for making me feel a part of the family.
well I am a hormonal mess, and this made me smile, cry and smile again! Love the links you posted, I read them all. Hence the smiling crying hormonal mess that I am. Always do you!
You’ve noted the natural reaction to this post may be guilt. It’s not a bad thing if your readers’ first reaction is “Shit. She’s talking about me” That means we’re thinking about what you said. In response, I want to use my guilt to offer a blanket apology: I am sorry if anything I’ve ever typed to you has put you in the position of feeling the feels you had when you knew you needed to write this post. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve done that because I’m not usually one to ask people for help and that would qualify as asking for help. However, I know that I am very thoughtless in the comments I fling around the internet and I fling comments at you, in particular, from many spots in this online world of ours so I think I should add another blanket to my blanket and say now that I am very sorry if I’ve ever typed something to you that made you have unpleasant feelings.
It’s important for me to tell you that I would never want you to feel discomfort because of me. Wait, that’s not to say I think you’re running around with a list of people who have disturbed you online and that you recognize my name from said list and all the tic marks next to it and are glaring in my general internet direction. No, I’m saying apologizing is important to me because I see you as someone who is very careful of others’ feelings and while there are those who may not agree, I would very much like to try to treat you as you treat me, your reader.
I love coming here, to your house and to your outhouse (Twitter) and your little sheds and outbuildings and everything else you’ve got on the Bloggess Online Estates because I know you’ll be singing your song. Sometimes, I don’t want anymore guilt, I don’t want to read more about the current social injustices we seem to be drowning in. Sometimes, I don’t want to think about why I’m still so far behind in my efforts toward being a better person. Sometimes, I want something I can read and enjoy (or read and be sad about. Or read and be amazed over. Mostly, though, it’s read and laugh and wonder how I can prove we’re related) and not feel judged. Because I never feel judged here. I simply feel like I can walk in, take a seat, maybe serve myself a wine slushie, and listen to the story currently being hold. It’s even better than when you call the library and instead of hold music, they have an audiobook going (our library used to do that. We don’t anymore. I assume not everyone likes coming in in the middle of a story OR they get angry when they can’t finish the story because the call center takes their call. Not that I am saying your posts are like the middle of stories. Ok, sometimes they are, but…you know what? I am going to stop. I’m getting ridiculous when I mean to be serious)
So to wrap up this monologue: Thank you for singing your song. Thank you for having a house we can visit where we don’t have to jump on bandwagons and don’t have to feel sad about the state of affairs out there. Thank you for sharing YOUR stories.
http://www.sarahwilson.com/2012/03/are-you-all-dress-rehearsal-no-play/
By the end, all I could think of was Oods. Oods, singing the song of the Doctor Donna. Such lovely and sad melodies in the air. But so wonderful and peaceful at the same time. I hope all our songs can join together like that. May they wash over you (and me and everybody) and bring more hope, peace and love into our lives, because we all could use it.
Amazeballs….
THIS: http://www.sarahwilson.com/2012/03/are-you-all-dress-rehearsal-no-play/
My guy Rory’s blog, Terminally Intelligent, is filled with such helpful posts. He’s collected some of the most important at Key Posts on his blog: https://terminallyintelligent.wordpress.com/key-posts/
I follow your blog to hear YOUR song, which I can so relate to in so many ways. I’m sure there are many people who have a platform that they want endorsed… heck, even I could try to guilt-force you to share my personal anguish in a topic or two, but that’s not why I read your blog. I read your blog for an escape from all of “that.” So thank you for sticking with just being you. You make me laugh, sometimes for all the wrong reasons, but it’s comforting to me and it’s healing to me, and that’s all that matters (to me). xo
This is why you are one of my very favorite people. You say things that are in my brain sometimes before I even realize it and definitely before I can figure out the words to express it. Thank you a million times for sharing your song.
You! You are one of the first things I show people that don’t understand that even though I’m smiling and laughing I’m still wanting to curl up and let the world. Thank you for helping me smile when its hard and for being real and teàching me that I don’t have to pretend there is nothing wrong just so people won’t run away. My friends dont leave me feeling numb, they want to help me feel real again
Love you and your nakedness!
thank you for giving to so many who you are not obligated to provide for out of no other reason than you are generous and funny as shit. And yes! Prince is bad ass!
I love that you share your life stories and your feelings. You don’t know how much I look forward to your posts. Never change. Your tribe loves you. As the saying goes, you can’t please all of the people all of the time, and you can’t please some people any time. Stay strong, sister!!
Obviously, you win the internet.
That’s the only reason people bring you their causes.
Take it as a compliment because they are showing you how much they value your writing, your opinion, your influence, your sensitivity, your wisdom.
Smile, you are a treasure for so many people.
You are loved.
Hugs
Also, I’m confused about the severed boobie.
Perhaps at some time in the future, you can enlighten us (NO PRESSURE!)
Thanks for being a lovely beacon of light in the tangled web of our lives.
Never change, glorious Bloggess, except that you are always changing, like a crazy rainbow. I don’t know what that means, but in my head it makes sense.
We come here to hear you, not someone else using your voice. Many many people can write about the serious terrible issues that trouble the world today. But only you can write about Bloggessianism, and the world needs Bloggessianism as much as it needs the thought provoking and the inspiring. Because Bloggessianism heals and helps keep us going. The Church of Bloggessianism is a place to rediscover the joy of being alive, without which the battles of life would be overwhelming.
I have plenty of sites to go to to to learn about and contribute to healing the ills of the world. But this is one of the few places I can come to to learn about and heal the crazy world inside my own head.
What is the Wil Wheaton Collating Paper version of responding to demands for morally outraged blog posts?
All hail St. James Garfield!
You’re the best – articulate, witty, and at times life-saving. Your blog and the comments people leave on it are the most worthwhile content on the Internet (to me, at least!). I, for one, don’t want you depleting yourself by responding to the demands/guilt trips of people who don’t understand what a huge service you’re already providing to many lost souls. Thank you, from all of us.
You are only responsible for yourself and your family. All these people who want to criticize and be unhappy with you because you are not following their agenda need to get a life and a blog of their own. You are perfect the way you are and the way that you are doing your blog. This IS your house and if they don’t like how you are doing things then they should shut up and leave.
Jenny, I applaud your bravery. I follow your blog for the simple fact that i understand where you’re coming from and how you feel cause I have and am there too. I expect nothing from you. Yet you give so much in return without even knowing it. I wish we could meet and talk someday. Person to person. Girl to girl. Nut to nut. More so, good person to good person. If you do read this, you have my email. Feel free to reach out. I’m going through quite a rough patch right now. Your humor is helping me get by. Thanks! Lori
You go on with your bad self, girlfriend! You certainly have a song, and you are singing it beautifully. Don’t change it for anyone, only for yourself.
I love these words, and I feel like I could have written many of them. If there’s one thing the world needs, it’s more kindness and more beauty. And, since you asked…
http://talesandtails.com/looking-for-more-beautiful/
Yes. This is why I’m here.
You’ve introduced me to a lot of amazing things, Jenny! I come here to catch up on you; find out what you’re up to, what you’re writing about. You simply enhance my life in a bunch of ways.
And so do the tribe of commenters. Love you all. .
Don’t be afraid to say it out loud: “I. AM. FINITE.”
If you need practice, scroll down your Facebook newsfeed past all those posts that demand you “Like and Share if you are against (kicking babies, terrorism, cancer, insert evil thing here).” Somehow they manage to imply that if you don’t Like and Share, you are for whatever horrible thing they have listed.
I come here because it’s fun. Keep being you!
“A song that sometimes is out of tune and seldom rhymes and is sung loudly in the dark and in whispers when I’m not quite myself.” This is beautiful. Like, I want to tattoo it on my body beautiful. Like, I have never loved a string of words more beautiful.
I’m in a book called Surviving Mental Illness Through Humor. There are SO MANY amazing, heartfelt essays that resonate so fully with me…and then there’s mine, which is about my husband pissing on my face. So you see, this book is helpful in many different ways.
You probably won’t be able to read this, because let’s face it…there are 717 comments on this post without Twitter or Facebook.
But I hope that some day the sentiment reaches you.
Your song is often what gets me through the day. I read plenty about causes and things that other people are wanting you to write about. I’m glad they write about them. But your blog, with just you and your quirks and all of the funny things that make up your life…it gets me through. Right now I’m having a really hard day and I’ve cried and I’m hiding my emotions from everyone else around me, but I read your post and it makes me smile and it makes me happy.
I am so glad to see that you’re not letting anyone make you feel bad about singing your song and no one else’s
Yeah! Over 700 replies. One big silly quirky and happy internet family.
Been sharing favorite quotes with fellow teachers at my work ( a child care development center) this week too. Mine: Hakuna Mataka! Sing it proud.
Woot, woot! My laziness makes me look good… Finally! (No really, it’s Buddhism, yeah, that’s it…)
Jeebus.
when I posted the link the the Relentlesly Gay rainbow yard Gofund me, it was only because it was funny.
I mean, relentlessly gay invisible rainbow dragon on the roof is almost as good as a taxidermy goat. Almost. Also that the woman had $30,000.00 beyond her goal in less than 48 hours showed a huge bunch of support, and was full of awesome and reminded me of your particular brand of sass. I can’t wait to see what she does to her yard with all that cash.
That’s all.
You do plenty, for all of us. All the time. No, really, all the time, Ms. Lawson.
Thank you for not standing on that soapbox. We spend our days walking around or jumping from soapbox to soapbox. Sometimes, I just want to read something funny or heartfelt. That is why I read your blog.
We all love you, Jenny. So much. Exactly as you are.
I’ve survived 20 years with depression. For the past 4 years I’ve been “in remission” (i.e. I’m managing it in positive ways with the variety of tools at my disposal and my team of friends & family who support me. I’ve had some sad/gloomy days but no serious depressive episodes and most of the time I’m more-or-less furiously happy in my low-key introverted way.)
There are three members of my team that I have never met in person but who have helped me maintain my mental health, whom I turn to often when the world seems wretched or when I feel like a dodecahedral peg in a round hole:
1.) YOU. I’ve binge-read Let’s Pretend to get through bad days & just finished reading an ARC of your new book. I mention you frequently to therapists and fellow depression (and anxiety) survivors and have already given many of them a heads-up about the new book’s pub date. Your writing is literally a mental health resource.
2.) Allie Brosh. Hyperbole and a Half sits on my bedside table next to your book at all times. My hubby & I say “It’s a bear… and there were spiders the whole time!” as a humorous coping mechanism to make it through times when life gets stressful or scary. http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/02/scariest-story.html
3.) Miranda Hart: http://www.hulu.com/miranda because the world is a better place when unabashed misfits stand up tall and sing their hearts out.
Most traditional cheerful inspirational quotes have never helped me (although I think it’s awesome – and I’m glad – that they do help some people). But you – with your zombie-Jesus and “Knock-knock, motherfucker” and chupacabra obsession – have helped me enormously. Thank you so much.
P.S. “Knock-knock, motherfucker” is my battle-cry when I have an inkling that depression wants to try to worm it’s way in & start lying to me again, and I have to put on my armour and kick it’s ass. I am a mild-mannered, friendly person who gets along well with children and animals and doesn’t curse in public. But I think depression is kind-of scared when it hears “Knock-knock, motherfucker”. So thank you for that, too.
I have shared this with everybody. Even psychiatrists and therapists. It is the best understanding on depression ever. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=mYWLVdi_HI3KogTGp4LYCQ&url=http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2013/05/depression-part-two.html%3Fm%3D1&ved=0CBwQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNGwh1pKXscZIw_-GfI9lNcZO5uKng
I read you because you do make me laugh out loud…then people ask why and I can say…oh nothing, just something about vaginas and it was funny. I read you because I can’t always articulate how I feel but sometimes you do.. And I’m all… Fuck yeah… I read you because you give a glimpse into a life I will never know. I have nothing for you to share or retweet …. I don’t even tweet, so retweeting can’t happen. I can tell you about my biggest current annoyance… Fucking ankle biting mosquitoes…. I’m wearing socks for god’s sake! Yet they are murdering my ankles and killing my good vibes, yet they don’t give a shit because those assholes are hungry and just trying to survive in the same way all of lthe living things are. Your post was heavy and I suspect with all of your current business, it wears you down. I get it. Please send bug spray if you are against mosquitoes. If you don’t, I will be forced to think you are in with those bastards. Just kidding. That’s ridiculous. There are probably a millionaire n of your readers you will never have to explain stuff to.
I have shared this with everybody. Even psychiatrists and therapists. It is the best understanding on depression ever. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=mYWLVdi_HI3KogTGp4LYCQ&url=http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2013/05/depression-part-two.html%3Fm%3D1&ved=0CBwQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNGwh1pKXscZIw_-GfI9lNcZO5uKng
And please don’t change. Most of us wouldn’t be enjoying the ride with you if you let others guilt you into posts. I wish them well in their temp insanity, they just lost their way for a moment. ♡
Should I take it that you won’t be contributing to my Pony Fund? Even though everyone deserves a pony.
meow meow meow
Let’s start a movement. Say no to the posts that threaten us if we don’t like or share. I refuse to particpate.
My blog is completely under-read, so I had no idea that people would “demand” that you write about what they say you should. WTF? People.
I love your song, Jenny. And I love how I never know which verse is coming next–will it be funny, insightful, powerful, helpful–or everything rolled into one? Sing it, sister. We’re listening.
http://blogs.bible.org/engage/sandra_glahn/7_baby_steps_whites_can_take_to_fight_racism
Girl, all you have do you is be the terrific writer and person you are. Don’t get bogged down in petty shit.
When I’m feeling down, this helps: http://www.desiderata.com/desiderata-poem.html
Especially these lines:
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
You can’t do it all, Jenny, but I am so thankful for all that you do. 🙂
<3 I really enjoyed this post and I love you and you’re fantastic and I support this post 100%
Go you!
Love your blog and am inspired by your honesty about your struggles with mental illness. I was also inspired by two colleagues in my office who shared their struggles with depression and bipolar disorder. This inspiration led me to recently start publicly sharing my own lifetime struggle with mental illness, something I have worked very hard to keep a secret my whole life. We recently gave a presentation at a large mental health conference in Los Angeles about Stigma and it’s impact on healing. It was a very empowering moment for me. You can see a video we showed about ourselves here.
https://youtu.be/vC2ix3KVsh4
Someone else already said it but “Depression lies” is the thing you wrote that stays with me. I come back to it on hard days. Honestly the whole point of having a blog is being able to write whatever the F you want. The internet is a big place. If people aren’t interested, they will and do move on. This is not a forum for anything other than Jenny Lawson’s mind. We are all visitors and would do well to remember that.
Also, Beyonce. She has stuck with me too. Depression and Beyonce the giant metal chicken.
You are wonderful.
Quite a while ago (a couple of years?) you posted about music that gets you through when times are tough. You invited your readers to post about the music that gives them strength, too. This song by Jack’s Mannequin was listed in the comments. I don’t know who posted it, but that person saved my life with that song. Over and over again. Somehow, it changed everything.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA8PaIw5gcE&w=560&h=315%5D
I feel privileged to be a guest in your house.
Every day I face similar struggles as you do, and every day I get up and try to make the world a nicer, more positive place. The only thing I can think to share right now, is my own house. (Tonight the topic is letting go of our unreasonable focus on the body, instead of what we help us more, nourishing our soul.)
Thank you, for allowing me to do that, and for being exactly who you are.
Julie
Hear! Hear! Like Jill W said, Your writing speaks to so many people exactly because you are honest and you write about what resonates with you.
And now, a man who accidentally bought a horse tells his story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zroqfea2psY
My goodness that was long. I get it. I don’t post that often. I try to post but I feel it is an assault to words to blabber on if I don’t feel passionately inspired to write. It’s your space you should always write what’s in your heart not others. Kindness… and talking of kindness made me smile. thank you.
I was reading this at work and then my boss came out and asked what it was and I said “Oh, I’m just checking the weather forecast”. So now your blog is also ninemsn. Then I physically couldn’t wait until my lunch break to read the rest, so I took my phone in the toilet. That’s how intoxicating the way you write is. No wonder every man and his dog wants you to promote whatever they got goin’ because I’d buy a dirty sponge if you said I should. But I kinda feel like if a dog was asking you to promote his dirty sponge you would because omg talking dog.
I just recently learned what the spoon theory was from my friend Annie Houston. About Kindness, I do what I can when I can. I learned a beautiful lesson in humanity today. CNN was running the impact statements of the Charlston Shootings and the Boston Bombing. Most of the people involved in the Charlston shooting spoke of forgiveness toward the person that did this horrible thing, as did Henry from Boston. I was amazed at the Grace these people showed. Blessed Be to those Gracious, Enlightened folks that refused to carry hate. This is humanity at its finest.
I struggle with my own tiny blog. The hardest part is trying to remain upbeat and humorous about really serious stuff. But it IS my song. My song about being crazy and the circumstances that surround it, and my beautiful, complicated, and sometimes funny, troubled life. I feel like I have a voice waiting to break free, and I need to stop worrying about who might read it and what conclusions they might draw about me as an imperfect human being with the mouth of a sailor and a twisted sense of humor. I have been thinking and dreaming about sharing my story for over a decade, and your post has given me a boost in the right direction. Thank you!
Thanks so much for writing this and letting us know how it feels from your side. x
My life story looks like a cautionary tale, or maybe even a tragedy. But I’m not done yet.
Felicity Banks
Without you, I would not know that octopi can crawl out tidepools, chase down crabs and drag them down to a watery and I presume, horrific death. Where else can I get this truly important information?
Jenny, thank you for being your weird, wonderful, caring and honest self!
YES! My Elf and I have borrowed a friend’s expression, and we love it.
It is simply- a shrug of the shoulders and “We’re not really joiners.”
Works every time, without offense.
This made me cry, you are so right about being kind (feeling very emotional today). I read the owl links and the one about the wall resonated with me too.
I’m not a nice person as a rule. I can drop the f bomb with the best but I try to be respectful of my elders and I’m kind with them. I’ll listen to what they want to talk about and I’ll ask questions. And smile. A smile is like icing on the cupcake. So here is a smile for you today. Enjoy. 🙂
Sing your song!!! Could you possibly reconsider the Chinese orphan fundraiser…my Lil Red really likes his legs? Please and thank you!
This was absolutely gorgeous writing. I know that we’ve never met, but you write in a way that is so open and honest, it feels like listening to a friend. I’ve often wondered (worried!) about how draining that must be and am amazed how you handle it with such grace and humor. Reading this makes me worry less about you (was that creepy?). It even echoes to a lesser extent the things that go through my head when I’m blogging. I never feel educated enough to speak to current events and have even apologized for not addressing certain issues because I haven’t walked in anybody else’s shoes but my own. You have your priorities (and ducks!) all in a row and this post really helped me. You rock, Jenny!
This was beautiful. When I was reading your P.S. about the song, I had the song of the Oods in my head – that haunting, beautiful melody, but so appropriate for your words. Thank you for sharing.
My quotes: “The darkest nights produce the brightest stars” and “Not all dreams come true. But you can always make new dreams.”
I really wish you could add a “Like” button for comments. I love your posts because of themselves (no matter the topic, you are genuine & honest & kind). AND, your followers are as amazing as you are. I learn so much from the comment list. Please, please install that “Like” button as soon as you are able.
Darn it! I see that I’ve just joined the pushy group. I’m sorry. I get carried away with the awesomeness of your sharing and the ripples created by it. Thank you for all you do and, especially, for making it okay to have boundaries for self-care. You are loved.
This is such a beautiful post. I’ve never been moved to comment on a blog before but I have to say to you: Well done! Well said! Good for you, defining your boundaries! I love that you assume we are all compassionate, rational people. Thank you.
Well said. Pls try not to feel bad about saying it
I give a copy of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened to almost everyone I know as a birthday gift, and I share your “depression lies” posts multiple times a year.
Thank you for being a writer. Thank you for hitting “publish.”
The song that I always come back to is an actual song. Merry-Go-Round by Antje Duvekot
Your blog has given me an insight into mental illness and made me a kinder person for it. you need to justify nothing to any of you readers!
Aa for them thing which I love and refer to… I’ll be truly amazed if you haven’t seen this before (hell, you’ve probably posted about it sometme and I missed it, or someone else has mentioned it here already). However, the epic and fabulous Tim Minchin gave this speech about kindness… Words to live by…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoEezZD71sc
Reblogged this on Hyperbolic / Hyperbolsk and commented:
This is the best blog entry ever. Even if The Bloggess, amazing though she be, is not your cup of strange taxidermy, you should read this entry. It is, without hyperbole the most important message you will read in your lifetime of “most important message you will read today/this week/this month/this year”s. It’s long, it’s rambling, but there’s not a word wasted. Okay, some of them are only there for the laughs and giggles, but important should be sprinkled with laughs and giggles more often.
Now go read it, I’m serious. Read it!
I was feeling pretty bad about something entirely unrelated when I came here, and I am so glad i read what you wrote. Sometimes just having the chance to see someone else’s actual soul really helps. Thank you.
Knock, knock, mutherfucker! I just came here for Beyonce, taxidermy and laughs. Now I show up because of your kindness and openess. This is your place, you owe us nothing. Except cookies, and kittens. Much love and a virtual hug.
This is your house. I’m not going to tell you how it should be decorated. If you ever decided I should be kicked out I would be unhappy but I’d probably deserve it. I don’t come here to read what other people have demanded you write about. I come here to read what you want to write about.
We all want to hear YOUR song! Keep singing!!! 🙂
Love u girl! You have all of us, so apparently ur doing something right. Spoon Theory changed my whole view of my illness, and helps me manage it. Also, Depression Lies is my mantra when I manage to tumble down the rabbit hole. It helps me dig out every time.
Now for your enjoyment, cats replacing dinosaurs on Jurassic Park.
http://thechive.com/2015/06/22/someone-replaced-all-of-the-dinosaurs-in-jurassic-park-with-cats-21-photos/?utm_source=sumomeshare&utm_medium=facebook#.r01qor:8Bdy
Thank you, your words give me happy tears and make life better. You simply ROCK! Keep it up.
Depression Lies. Damn, that helps me when I tumble down the rabbit hole more than I can say. I also love the Spoon Theory, changed the whole way I manage my fibro. U keep writing what you want girl. Apparently you r doing something right! And now, a link to cats replacing dinosaurs on Jurassic Park.
http://thechive.com/2015/06/22/someone-replaced-all-of-the-dinosaurs-in-jurassic-park-with-cats-21-photos/?utm_source=sumomeshare&utm_medium=facebook#.r01qor:8Bdy
Well done. Good for you!
Rereading this post this morning – “In a world so busy speaking that it can’t hear” is downright beautifully said.
Thank you. More than you can know.
Not only is it common sense that Nazis are bad but also that there’s no way you’d be able to market what your readers tell you that you have to. Love your song – sing it loud and proud and I’ll be listening as long as you care to share it!
Best quote I have read in a long time: “We don’t always get to choose our causes. Sometimes our causes choose us.” – Jenny Lawson 🙂
That was a wonderful post, except where you write Nazi’s instead of Nazis. Where’s you editor? But you have a special heart, despite your grammatical error.
(Nazis don’t deserve to spelled correctly, Neil. Fixing now. 🙂 ~ Jenny)
Stick to your guns, Sista! Even if they ARE squirt guns aimed at folks too hot under the collar to realize they need to chill. I love your blog, and your books, and continue to support your irreverent sense of humor <3
so, so, SO agree with you! We should live our own truths, pursue our own causes, and not try to shame people into following what we believe in. I love your posts, laugh out loud at many, and come here especially when I need some down time from people who are convinced that if I don’t think they way they do, there’s something wrong with me. You are appreciated, just the way you are.
Have I told you lately that I love you ?? Even though since I started reading you, I stopped writing ? shitskis.
I think maybe we were seperated at birth…
You keep doing exactly what you are doing
Your honesty shamed me into asking for help. Thank you. Sometimes we need a nudge (or a shove).
I read The Spoon Theory and now I’m standing here crying at work. I am not sick but I am a foster mom and that means I absorb all the issues of the kids in my care. I am the “spoon manager” for their tiny little lives and I have struggled for years to explain that concept to friends and family who don’t get why we don’t go places or do things, why we withdraw, why I get overwhelmed and can’t handle normal-life things, and why it is never ok to say “Just do ___ the kids will be fine.” Thank you for sharing. I feel less alone today, and it even gives me hope that I can actually explain our daily life now to people who care.
Personally I come here for the fun, if I want to read about issues (which I often do) there are plenty of other sites better suited to that.
Step to the music which you hear, however measured and far away…
My Mom gave me that, an amazing and rare insight moment
Your writing is hilarious! I love it when you make me laugh and when you make me think. I believe you have a good mix of a few good causes that are dear to your heart (and those are the only ones you should write about) and funny stuff that makes my day brighter. And when you write about depression it makes me feel less alone. I’ve adopted your mantra, repeat it when I’m down, and share it with a lot of people: “Depression Lies!” Keep on keeping on!
wish I could give you a hug….and a spoon
“But if I’m always singing everyone else’s song then there’s no room for mine.”
YES!! Love this post and one day I’ll get through more of the comments. But I wanted to say this… I’ve been surprised lately (and maybe I shouldn’t be?) by the number of people who seem to feel that writers owe them something — as if they are entitled to more details or explanations or more something.
Keep singing YOUR song. I’m here to listen and learn. And LAUGH 🙂
You are awesomer than ever. I know, I know, it’s “more awesome” , but you are awesomer than more awesome.
I love and admire the way you think. Thank you.
Amen, amen, amen – a thousand times AMEN!!!!
Here’s one I come back to time & again – Free Hugs by Juan Mann: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4
And this one – Mathew Harding dancing with people all over the world: http://www
And this video by Built by Titan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b58rgdK9dTI
Amen
I saw this post on vlogbrothers recently and have been sending to an awful lot of people. It’s about what it means to be human, and it gives me faith about people in general: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FPpwxHtXLU
It makes me want to do better and be better as a person, too. Not in a guilty way, in a “it’s not just possible but doable” way.
I also think Jesus is a Zombie.
When I read Let’s Pretend This Never Happened I was inspired to write a blog about my dad. Like so many of your readers, I feel your pain and celebration of the things life throws at us. If you feel like it, check out my blog The Deer Hunter – it was directly inspired by your writing.http://nancyhadley.com/2012/07/the-deer-hunter/
Nicely said. And now for a less serious PSA: This cat shirt, which was a link on your site in the reason past, is awesome as it looks…..cat eye laser beams AND its a very comfortable cotton.
http://www.amazon.com/Laser-Eyes-Space-Cat-T-Shirt/dp/B00C1KAX0Y
I love mnemonics:
K=Keep
I=It
N=Nice
D=Daily.
That is my philosophy.
I’ve been come here for a few years now to get my funny bone tickled but I have to say I think this is my favorite post of all. We all may not agree on everything and I am glad that we have a 1st amendment right to free speech and I’ll defend it. However, another right I practice often and maybe others should, from time to time too, is the right to remain silent…
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb2arWjBhp0
this is my song
I also want to thank you for the link to the Spoon Theory. My wife has had RA since she was a little girl. She just had two hip replacements last year. We’ve been together for 12 years and I thought I had pretty good handle on what she goes through until I read the Spoon Theory. Now, like Jon Snow, I realized I knew nothing.
Well Said! Good for you.
You are brilliant. This is brilliant. Keep singing your song.
I just wanted to share a little bit of hope with you.
I have been doing random acts of kindness. One of them lately is going into the break room at work, purchasing a snack from the vending machine, and just leaving it in there for a random co-worker to enjoy. I don’t know who gets it, and I don’t care.
Yesterday, I went to the machine to purchase a snack for myself. There was a bag of chips already in the bottom of the machine. I didn’t do it – someone else did. I left it in there, but it made me smile the rest of the day, knowing that at least one other person in my fairly large workplace “got it”.
“YES. FUCKING EXACTLY. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY BUT I COULDNT FIND THE WORDS FOR IT.” Thank you, Jenny.
Beautifully said!
Reblogged this on Kitt O'Malley and commented:
The Bloggess Jenny Lawson’s post This is my house blew me away with its wisdom about self-care and setting limits. She gets a myriad of requests to write about various causes and responds “I just can’t,” and:
“This is my house. You are welcome here. You are wanted. You are allowed to leave links of posts or articles you think this community would say “Oh, I needed that” to. You are welcome to talk and visit and make friends and to realize that each of us is flawed and human and (in the grand scheme of things) knows nothing. Because I’ve come to know that the only thing I really know is we could all do with a little more kindness. Both in giving and getting.”
Yes! I have noticed comments on several blogs I read demanding certain topics be addressed. However, I maintain that if a stranger tells me I “have kind eyes” I would be very creeped out.
At first I thought you were talking about this and I was confused. But I think it’s appropriate and you should send it back to the asshats who are busy “heckling” you. 1. It’s funny and on point and 2. for some of them the opportunity to mutter about Obama will distract them from making silly demands of a lady who’s just trying to make them laugh.
I have one really cool account to suggest at instagram: @blackjaguarwhitetiger It’s the Black Jaguar White Jaguar Foundation, if you like big cats, like lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards… then you can check them out and be amazed! He (Eddie, the CEO) started rescuing those big cats about 2, 3 years ago from circus and bad owners, and has now over 100 cats, and he posts videos and pictures of them everyday! He’s at twitter as @jaguarandtiger and at Facebook too. I felt in love with Eddie’s kids, as he calls them. Hope you like them too!
Black Jaguar White Tiger* Foundation
I am not terribly insightful or intelligent so I only have one important thought to share:
You are the only blogger I know who would use this much space to say what should be obvious to all of us – you cannot be everything to everyone! The fact that you spend so much effort attempting to explain it just shows me what a genuinely good person you truly are.
You are true to yourself. You have a boat load of followers and we love you.
I have been following your blog for a couple of months. I guess we would be polar opposites in many ways and I don’t read some of your posts because they appear too fluffy for me.
But this one is brilliant, I agreed with most of your points, enjoyed all of it, even the parts I disagreed with. Gave me a great deal of respect for your writing and your ability to put complex thoughts into words. Especially liked your ideas on kindness and why we need more of it.
This post is amazing! I have only been following your blog for a short time but I have found it to be my favorite. Your honesty and self confidence is truly inspiring and motivating! I have trying to build my blog for the past couple weeks and Ive written just a couple of posts but every time I read your blog I get the motivation I need, or maybe its the espresso, Im not sure 🙂
The song, which I’m sure you have heard that I love is “Could you be loved” by Bob Marley!
“Don’t let them change ya, Or even rearrange ya”
Have a great day Jenny!
Thank you. Your words bring me to grateful tears. Thanks for modeling boundary setting and being real. Your realness inspires me.
You’ve managed to awaken a pure hysteria in my core that I have not felt since I was six. I ended up then, as now, curled up head to knees crying from the pain in my ribs from laughing so hard. I had forgotten this feeling. Sometimes it’s just so nice to be a human! I am not looking to you to be my guiding light. You’ve done your job in my life. You helped blow away some shadows so that I can enjoy the Universe’s joke again.( But of course as long as you continue to write I will be your avid reader…..). Lisa
love!
Well said.
slow clap
Jenny, you’re awesome and I’m sorry you get hounded. You raise my spirits so often and today you just blew me away with Boggle on Anxiety. It’s PERFECT! Thank you! I’ve mentioned this site once before, but it helps on tough days (and not so tough ones): http://www.tinykittens.com. A foster mom who gives us a 24/7 webcam on cute. Hang in there!
Sometimes it is so hard to say the things you know you have to say to feel better. Then you say it and it’s like “zing” you feel amazing (so I hope that happened)!!! This is totally your house and I love visiting here – no one makes me take of my shoes. Also you do so much around the holidays with the James Garfield Giving and the Project Night Night. You’re one person, can’t do it all. That’s why we visit! Also, sometimes it’s okay to tell us to go home. No one wants a guest to overstay their welcome. You rock Jenny!
Hey, Jenny
No need to explain – I come here to listen to your mind speaking, not parroting others, no matter how worthy.
Thank you for this, Jenny. I started blogging a few years ago and I’ve heard some of the same:
“Why don’t you try humor, Dani? Your stuff is a little too heavy.”
“You should write about [insert topic], cause if you don’t, you’re not really an ally.”
“I think you should start another blog that’s just fiction, THAT would be really good.”
I’ll admit, I took much of these (and others) to heart. But now I’m over it and very comfortable saying, “This is my house.”
Thank you for encouraging me to do so.
Under the same sky,
Dani
My brother suffers from depression at times, and has written about it. He writes a blog – one post a week, and his posts are about every day challenges, and how to try and be a better person. short and sweet, but very heartfelt. I think you would enjoy it. I hope so 🙂
http://journeyman.life/archives/
Oh jenny. This was pretty great. This is your house. And you can write about whatever you wanna write about. And I’ll keep reading all of it. I thank god for the day my friend sent me the link to your entry “Is it Just Me?” and said “her name is Jenny, she blogs a lot about depression. Thought you might wanna read this.” Thank God. And I’ve been part of your blog family ever since.
Everything you said makes sense. The thing is, someone will send you a link or a topic or whatever, and they think they are the only ones to have done that. They think they are just one person, and this one person is sending you something. But you are so popular and have so many followers that you get thousands and thousands of “just one person”s sending you stuff. You can’t post it all. You shouldn’t have to post it all. We all feel like we know you and you’re our friend and we wanna go have coffee with you <3 And you are. And we do. But you have to have your own voice too, and this is your house, like you said. Thanks for inviting us in. <3
As for what I want to share, my latest is Soundtrack of My Life, which is all about how music has played a huge role in major events in my life. From my suicidal feelings to that time a girl broke up with me to my divorce. Feel free to check it out and if nothing else, listen to some good music, as there are a lot of links 🙂 But that’s not the specific one I want to share with the fine folks. I want to share the letter I wrote to my mom for mother’s day last year. I hope you and your audience like it.
http://mybleedingink.com/2013/05/12/an-open-letter-to-my-mom-mothers-day-updated-for-2013-and-a-childs-angel/
forgot to say one thing. I’m working on my own entry about anxiety and depression. But……sigh…..It’ll be a while. I started it a few days after Robin Williams took his life. Yep. Last August. Haven’t been able to finish it. Some stuff just hits too close to home, ya know?
My song is similar to yours, except that I don’t write about it. (I write about nursing and healthcare.) I love your writing style, I get what you say in your posts and I am happy you understand people will either agree, disagree or not care, but you share anyway. You are awesome; your point of view is yours alone and that’s how it should be. It was nice of you to explain why you have to be true to yourself, but, frankly, the people who need to hear that won’t listen or remember anyway. Just keep doing what you’re doing and I (and a million others) will keep reading about it.
Please keep up your writing. I have no agenda or links. I just adore you humor and take in life. It always brings a smile to my face when I see a new post from you. Keep on keeping on.
Follow links. Don’t follow links. Read. Don’t read. Write what you FEEL. I don’t matter. They don’t matter. We love you for you, my love. We read because we love you. And you are a leader, whether you want to be or not. We follow you. 🙂
This saves my life on a regular basis, as a person who keeps company with suicidal thoughts on a regular basis:
Thanks, Jenny, for letting us into your house. I cannot tell you how much the phrase “Depression Lies” has helped me climb out of several dark holes.
I LOVE your song. “This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples, no complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple. The philosophy is kindness.” – Dalai Lama
Awesome. Bravo. Damn Skippy. Fucking Aye. Hats Off. Kudos. Splendid. My words, my thoughts, my sentiments, my outlook, and my POV. Thank you for speaking for our tribe!
Thank you for this post. I agree, you should sing your song. Those who try to bully you into writing about what they want are like gnats. Annoying and to be ignored. One thing I’ve always loved about your blog is that you do share the things you care about and you invite us to do the same. As a writer it is only your responsibility to write about what you feel like writing about. No one should force any agenda on you and I’m sorry that they do. It’s probably because you are so nice and caring and also I guess with celebrity comes good and bad. Have you ever watched the show Comedians in Cars getting Coffee? Staring Jerry Seinfeld. I love it, he brings out the best in his guests and I love his style of comedy. He gets weary when people shout out the same tired phrases at him everywhere he goes and he’s honest about the annoying parts of fandom. Anyway, I think being true to yourself is the answer. You write what you want to write and we will all keep coming back for more because that is what makes your blog special. You make it special and I thank you. Can’t wait for the new book!
AMEN to you! This is your house and I soooo respect this post!!
So here’s my sharing humankindness and spreading hope of what’s possible in the darkest of circumstances! https://medium.com/p/a851abdf6098
There’s a portion of a book by Frederick Buechner that talks about what it means to be kind. He wrote that we should not just be gently kind, but fiercely kind, and by that kindness, to ourselves just as much as others, we could truly come alive. I think it’s a beautiful sentiment-one that has certainly stuck with me.
Be fiercely kind to yourself, Jenny. We all deserve that of ourselves.
XX
I am very glad that you sing your own song, you are an inspiration.
Dear beautiful, wonderful and wise Jenny,
This from Maya Angelou: “A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.” And from Robert Bly: “Make your story and tell it.”
Love you, love this community.
I had to look this up because it made me think of “The Blue Cat of Castle Town” and for the life of me I didn’t know why. I probably read that in 4th grade or before, so maybe between 45 and 50 years ago? Why could it ring faint bells so many years later? I guess the best books are like that…..
From Wikipedia:
“Sing your own song, said the river,
“Sing your own song.
“Out of yesterday song comes.
It goes into tomorrow,
Sing your own song.
“With your life fashion beauty,
This too is the song.
Riches will pass and power. Beauty remains.
Sing your own song.”
“All that is worth doing, do well, said the river.
Sing your own song.
Certain and round be the measure,
Every line be graceful and true.
Time is the mold, time the weaver, the carver,
Time and the workman together,
Sing your own song.
Sing well, said the river. Sing well.”
Your daughter may be the right age for this book. It may still be in print, it was a Newbery honor book in 1950. Those tend to get reprinted.
The three websites I recommend the most are your blog entire, Hyperbole and a Half’s second post on depression that I found through your blog, and then (totally unrelated to the others) a website called Separated by a Common Language that discusses the difference between British and American English. It’s the only website other than yours where I dare read the comments, because the people are unfailingly polite and intelligent. A while back when you had the past tense of some verb (forget what) where you said you grew up saying ___ and half your commentors said “I say that too” while the others said “OMG, that grates like chalk on a blackboard — please, PLEASE, DON’T???” That’s the kind of thing they discuss, and discuss why it’s perfectly good English in one place and not in another, and try to pin down where it’s okay. It’s run by a linguist who’s American by birth but teaches in England who can even explain WHY it’s okay, because language is a fluid concept. She, or other of the commentors, might pull out the history of why it’s conjugated that way, and how far back that has taken place and where it’s happened. (OED, anyone?)
I guess I just pimped a site to you, but I’m not expecting you to pimp it to anyone else, it’s just fascinating if you ever have time to browse through it, and the best part is the people are polite, and — as you said — kind. Currently they’re discussing why in America you can say “I live on Spruce” but in Britain you’d have to say “I live on Spruce Street” — or Road, Circle, Crescent, etc……
I think the only thing I’ve ever pimped out twice in your comments was a link to a page in the University of Chicago’s admission office blog (you can tell it’s been a while, and I’m not looking it up again at the moment) — they usually just post how and when to submit paperwork, but once they posted about a rather puzzling document they received in the mail — it seemed to be a diary and it was addressed to Dr. Henry Jones, Jr., Rm #__ Bldg. ___ etc…. It took them a while before it clicked (and two updated blog posts to track down the entire story) — but the penny finally dropped for someone who realized that the department of archaeology used to be in their building — it had since moved to a different building and admissions had taken over the office space. Dr. Henry Jones, Jr. is better known as Indiana Jones, and it was his actual office number. Someone (through Ebay) had made a very excellent mock up of Abner Ravenwood’s diary as it would have been sent to Indy, packaged in an envelope complete with address and (fake, cancelled reproduction) stamps. It was sold as an art object (rather expensive as I recall) and was originally shipped in another box well wrapped as a custom order for the real customer, unfortunately at some point in shipping the surrounding wrapping had become separated from the package and the post office kindly and properly delivered it to the address listed, assuming the cancelled postage was authentic. It puzzled admissions no end and tracking down who had sent it and who it was meant for took them about another week if I recall. I suspect it will become legend in their offices, and years from now they’ll still tell the story about when they received a package for Indiana Jones.
I guess I’ve pimped this out three times now. But seriously — Indiana Jones. This rates a “Because Indiana.” Or many a “Because Harrison Ford.”
There are certain people who make the world a better place simply by being in it. You are one of them.
Never, ever, ever forget that.
a lovely little song called “Hibi No Neiro” by a band named Sour. what’s so remarkable and wonderful is the video, though. i found it accidentally years ago, and it always makes me smile.
http://youtu.be/WfBlUQguvyw
If you haven’t watched Ricky Gervais’ series ‘Derek’, I highly recommend it. All about kindness, odd people and humour. Absolutely brilliant tv that makes you laugh uncontrollably one minute, cry the next.
Thank you for being just you. xx
I don’t judge people, I judge Victoria’s Secret… which makes me sing my song about clothes with sequins on the butt and their “one-size-fits-all” thongs. Thanks for singing YOUR song and making so many smile. XO… http://toblackbeltandbeyond.com/2013/03/22/dear-victorias-secret/
My life got a lot easier when I realized I couldn’t save the ENTIRE world, just try to make my little corner of it better than it was the day before…keep telling your stories and keeping your little corner beautiful and funny and safe.
I saw this a long time ago and it changed the way I view strangers, forever. In traffic, or the grocery line, or where ever I need to remind myself of others’ humanity, my mantra is, “This is water. This is water. This is water.”
I wrote this. It’s about being a birth mom and it’s resonating with a lot of moms out there. It’s beauty and hurt and family.
http://www.scarymommy.com/articles/being-a-birth-mother?section=confessions&u=16FWqbqiPz
The patron saint of ADHD if you are interested…..
http://asksistermarymartha.blogspot.com/2014/07/st-teresa-of-adhd.html?m=1
Funny Lady Who Makes Me Feel Happy And O.K. About Being Weird,
You’ve made me laugh and cry, you’ve made me realize that I needed help for my mental mentality, and you just plain jam out with yer clam out, so please allow me to share my Happy Song with you? Words of wisdom and love from the legendary Kinks:
Here’s wishing you the bluest sky,
And hoping something better comes tomorrow.
Hoping all the verses rhyme,
And the very best of choruses too
Follow all the doubt and sadness.
I know that better things are on the way.
Here’s hoping all the days ahead
Won’t be as bitter as the ones behind you.
Be an optimist instead,
And somehow happiness will find you.
Forget what happened yesterday,
I know that better things are on the way.
It’s really good to see you rocking out
And having fun,
Living like you just begun.
Accept your life and what it brings.
I hope tomorrow you’ll find better things.
I know tomorrow you’ll find better things.
Here’s wishing you the bluest sky,
And hoping something better comes tomorrow.
Hoping all the verses rhyme,
And the very best of choruses too
Follow all the drudge and sadness.
I know that better things are on the way.
I know you’ve got a lot of good things happening up ahead.
The past is gone it’s all been said.
So here’s to what the future brings,
I know tomorrow you’ll find better things….
youtube.com/watch?v=cXioctDPGn0
It’s gotten me through more sadness and given me more hope than I can say, just like you.
Cheers, thanks a lot,
Storm the Klingon
What needs to be heard? Oh my word…..that’s a good question! What needs to be heard and what people want to hear are two different things. Love is a good and safe topic. Truth is a good topic…not quite as safe though. What is truth? Answering a question and answering a question with the right answer are two different things as well. I think that what people need to hear is truth except I don’t think people can handle truth. I don’t even know if I can handle truth. That makes me sad. 🙁 All I can say is: Keep on Writing!! It’s GREAT and you are too! T:)
My first thought was how I’d like to kick their asses for putting so much pressure on you that you felt like you had to say all this publicly. But you asked us to share kindness or something that makes the world a better place instead. This is a recent post by The Minimalists that helps us keep outrage in check (even when it’s warranted) FAKE OUTRAGE: DEALING WITH CRITICISM
http://www.theminimalists.com/outrage/
This was beautiful. Thank you so VERY MUCH for posting. I have shared several quotes from this on my FB page. I love you, and your bravery.
Wow…
I’m baffled by the people who are demanding your time and that you use your platform for their own cause or issue (great and wonderful as those causes and issues may be). And the guilt tripping?? I’m sorry that you “get” to deal with that on a daily basis. I wonder how often that behavior works? This is your space and (I love how you phrased this) you have your own song to sing. Just commenting to add my support. You have a lovely, weird and wonderful song. I’m glad you are strong enough to keep singing it and letting us all hear it.
As far as the THIS posts go, Hyperbole and a Half’s Allie Brosh’s depression posts were it for me. I have a good friend who sufferered through a severe depression and it gave me a window to look in and understand. And it helped me acknowledge that I am coming out of (what I now realize was) mild depression.
I also really enjoy Zen Pencils, and this post On Kindness seems fitting!
http://zenpencils.com/comic/118-roger-ebert-on-kindness/
At some point, I will read every single comment in here because I know there is awesomeness here. So if this has been shared, sorry.
This site is lovely. Really, truly, lovely. http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/
Wait….you found a severed boobie on your lawn?? How did I miss this?? I’d try to find the right blog post but I’m terrified of what that Google search might turn up…
Nice thought..
Thanks for posting this Jenny.
You’ve maybe provided a new key for me. This sentence: “Letting a friend or a stranger yell hurtful things at you because you hope it will help them let go of a small part of that anger…that it will open up room in them for the greater things that they deserve.”
Do people do this?? It would certainly free up a lot of time for resentment or avoiding the hurtful things. But isn’t it dangerous to do it?
Every day I learn better ways to be. I don’t like how I handle this one, but have never heard of this as an intentional tactic.
I’d like to hear a bit more, about it – of course, only if it is your song to sing. 🙂 (You sing a great song, btw!)
Congrats on the Freshly Pressage!
I can’t imagine how inundated with requests you must be. My mom is always telling to write this or that story that doesn’t fit with my brand. At first I tried to explain. Now I just nod my head.
I have laughed out loud and have been moved to tears many times reading blog posts and some of them have been yours.
One post I saved that I really enjoyed was about Life Hacks. We can all use a few more of these!
http://www.highexistence.com/25-psychological-life-hacks-help-gain-advantage-social-situations/
Your job is to occasionally give me the surprise snort laugh while I’m at my desk, supposed to be working. Cuz it’s all about me. You can tell the perps that.
:::hugs:::
Well done, love. That can’t have been easy for you. I’m proud of you.
A Total Stranger
What the heck, man. Foulmouthed much???
This is brilliant. Absolutely, fantastically, supremely brilliant.
I LOVE this!!!
Love it!
You have hit the nail on the head. Writers write because they have something to say. Someone else telling you what you should write about is like telling you what you should care about – but only in a way that is acceptable to them.
Most readers don’t understand that in order for a writer to write, they must write truthfully.
I find it quite insulting when others tell me how I should care, or even worse, accuse me of not caring if I don’t regurgitate the same vomit they just spewed.
We don’t need people bullying us into writing what they want to read.
Reblogged this on thekaleidoscope34 and commented:
Well expressed !
Well expresse!
Hum some thing that I want to be said: Well, don’t blame me for the history of the past when I was not alive. I do the best I can. I am a nice person and try my best to be nice to everyone. I’m sick of everyone telling me I’m a bad person because this happen 200 years ago. I don’t like that it is a part of history. Our history, but it is and it happened. Let us focus on what happened today and kick some butt to fix it.
there – I said it and it is because I love you and are inspired by you that I put words to what is eating at me.
Now – let’s all go to a Gay Wedding and celebrate today’s victory!!!!
I love your writing. I love your topics. I love your cats, your taxidermy animals, your amazingly unique everything. Thank you for posting this for pushy people to maybe stop and reflect (or not – that’s on them). Most of all, thank you for being you. I would share some of my spoons with you if I could, or we could both hoard our own spoons and sit and binge watch awesome things on Netflix and YouTube. Maybe we should arrange a virtual party for all your readers – we pick a date and time and everyone sits in their own homes and watches their own TVs, but we do it together. You’ve brought together an amazing tribe and we all love you!
I’ve never understood why readers think they can dictate what a blogger “should” write about. For goodness sake, if they have something to say, they should start their own blog! Fully support you and your house. It’s a great place for comfort, laughter, realness and love. Thank you.
I love you and wish you lived next door to me. I’m sorry you even have to explain this but you did it very very well. Just keep being kind to yourself!
THIS.
Coming out of lurkdom: I’m a bit mad at these people on your behalf. If someone tells you about their cause: fine. You retweet or reblog as you see fit. But if someone tells you, “If you don’t…, then you are…” then that person is a bully. You don’t let yourself be bullied. Simple as that.
What a brave and brilliant post. Sums so many things up perfectly.
{{hugs}}
This is something I’ll share. With everyone
Wait. WAIT.
It’s “deep-seated” and not “deep-seeded”….. I’ll be damned.
Also: <3
This is an awesome post. I feel like you’ve said so many things that have been on my own mind.
YES to “The Spoon Theory.” I found http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com almost ten years ago, during my mother’s struggle with Cancer. (Wow. That was ten years ago. Holy CRAP.) Anyway, I revisited it again, when my best friend was diagnosed with MS. It’s such an insightful metaphor, and I just love it, so much.
Love the self care your sharing with us here. Thank you. <3
I heard Anne Lamott say this on a radio interview years ago when asked how to get through the hard stuff in life and it stuck with me. “Start where you are standing, it is sacred ground.”
Reblogged this on kubkibkibkiko.
In love with your writing.
Thank you, Jenny, for allowing us fellow homo sapiens to express ourselves. I don’t agree with everything you say in all of your posts, but I do respect you 100% for keeping it all real. Plus, you are so much better at explaining anxiety and depression than I am. Sometimes your explanations make me feel like I’m not such a freak. Your blog is awesome and you are such a strong person…I admire you.
This is the one (yours) that resonates with me and I hope everyone reads and shares. I’m so glad you are able to sing your song, Jenny. I find myself humming along, daily 🙂
Nice writting
I’ve shared the spoon theory with my 85 year old mom, more than once. When she get a shot for pain I remind her that the shot is like a box of spoons and the fewer spoons she gives out for scrubbing the floor or pulling weeds the more spoons she’ll have for shopping or going to the movies. It really helps.
It has taken me a few days to post this as I wanted to make sure I was as articulate as I can be. Jenny, you are wonderful and give so much of yourself to others. You give us a glimpse into your life that continues to inspire, amuse, entertain others while at the same time, making people cry because they finally feel that someone one else in the world feels something similar to the way that they do.
I am actually very angry that people are putting you in this position. People tend to forget that others have their own struggles and their own journey. Just because you are not screaming at the rooftops about their issue does not mean that you don’t care about the issue. There are so many worthwhile and worthy causes in the world. No one person can take on the responsibility for being the voice for everything.
Please know that people come here to hear YOU. If they wanted to hear about a cause, there are plenty of ways they can do that. If they want to be made aware of a cause, there are multiple ways for that as well. People who come here regularly care about you and your life. You owe us NOTHING. If you decided to stop writing tomorrow (Pretty please do not, I love reading your column) that is your right and you don’t have to justify it to anyone. But know we will worry. I am still worried about Allie Brosh with “Hyperbole and a Half” and I hope she is getting the healing that she needs.
If your post pissed people off, when then they weren’t true fans anyway. Bullies grow up and they love to shame everyone who doesn’t think like them or support their cause in the way that the Bully thinks they should. Don’t let the bullies win.
Anyway, long post and I am sorry. I wish I was as brave as you. I rarely comment on anything on the Internet (this is my second comment ever) I am too afraid of judgement and what people think of me. Keep singing your song, your way. Your true fans and supporters love you just the way you are.
You go girl!!! [z-snaps, head tilt]
You are amazing and brave and gracious, and so many other wonderful things. You are an inspiration to everyone. As for those who want you to be anything other than yourself, Copernicus the homicidal monkey can give them a big ol’ hug.
As for the thing that keeps me being me, it’s a quote from Mahatma Gandhi- “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” You are that change Jenny. Keep it up.
Good for you! and us . I’m rather sure that talking – or writing – WHEN you have a lot to say has a lot to do with you being worth reading. Just joining the choir is what FB likes are for anyway.
Jenny — you are such a beautiful writer, and you write in a way that makes everyone feel that you are our friend. HOWEVER — it is good for us peons to remember that, where you take the time to share yourself with us, you don’t really know US. We haven’t had you over to our house for a barbecue (and you get to keep the carcass!), or gone to your wedding, or sat with you in the hospital while you or a loved one was ill. Cyber friends are fun, but not the same as “here in person” friends. And cyber friends shouldn’t ask you for things. It’s not polite! Feel free to turn everyone down, and just support what your heart wants to. ‘Cause your true cyber friends will love you anyway!
Thank you. I come here to hear your song, not anyone else’s. I hope I will be able to keep on hearing your song for a long, long time.
You can’t do it all. That is okay. Sometimes when I am having a shitty day, I swing by here and you always make it brighter and turn things around. That is more profound than taking any kind of stance against anything. Sometimes it just takes making a person laugh at the right moment to make the entire world a better place.
You bring tears to my eyes as often as you makes me laugh and snort out loud. A beautiful talent indeed.
Man. You said it. And it’s good. I believe we all have a role. And that voice inside–that urge–tells us what it is. And your role can’t be everything to everyone. You bring a lot of light to this world. Already:). Without mucking it up with everyone else’s version of what you should be doing.
This is my first trip to your fun factory via Kitt O’Malley (http://kittomalley.com) and what a lovely ride! I’m a little sad that there was a need for this post. Maybe because this blog is so popular with so many followers, folks feel a plug here will reach Alpha Centauri. But, it wouldn’t be so popular or followed if you compromised your vision and voice. That’s a guess. I’ll have to keep reading to find out.
And here’s my humble site in case you find yourself with absolutely nothing to do.
http://aminddivided.com
I love to come and visit your thoughts. Whether they tickle my funny bone or cause involuntary eye weeping, they are great thoughts. Depression is hard, kindness is easy and laughing is fun. Thanks for sharing…..
A lovely piece about kindness (and love and loss) and a favorite to reread: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/29/AR2007082902031.html
This article explains and shows how segregated housing occurs and how it can be reversed-now if only we could put it into practice….
http://ncase.me/polygons/
nice story
I like your blog just the way it is. You can’t be reblogging everybody else’s shit. That is their job.
Good for you. I support this message!
Once upon a time I bought a magazine because it had Kate Winslet on the cover. (I have a ridiculous rule to always buy a magazine with Kate Winslet on the cover, for my own reasons) and….I laughed outloud on an airplane over an article about a metal chicken, and….
Jenny, yours is the only blog I read consistently. As much as you make me laugh, I appreciate the times you make me pause….and appreciate that I have that thing in my brain that makes me…happy. You bring me from “furiously happy” to very real, and I appreciate having you in my life just for that. Thank you, Jenny. Thank you, thank you, thank You.
Adding to a comment stream that consists of 905 comments already – so I wonder if it’s even likely you’ll see this… but well said. I rarely, if ever, blog or post on Facebook about of the moment topics. I’ve long held the view that I don’t want to be a part of the din… a voice shouting out only to increase the noise. I would hope, too, that my good friends would at least already know where I stand. A lot of the time, I have very middle-of-the-road views anyway, I can see the reasoning on both sides of a coin. So while I might be on a particular side of an argument, I also empathize with the other – and that can make it difficult to be understood by those who are fundamentally and agressively of one opinion. I don’t have patience or energy for that half the time. Luckily (?), though… I don’t have nearly as many followers as you do that would be asking me to write about anything like any of the above topics you mentioned. Anyway, good points, well presented. Good luck with fending off the demands 😉
I love this post. I completely agree that you should only write about what you are inspired to write, not just what someone demands you write. As for the “not backing causes unless you post about them” arguments, this is exactly the kind of thing which gets me annoyed about tumblr and stuff. Just because I’m not sharing posts about an issue, doesn’t mean I don’t care. Especially when it is a well publicised issue anyway. You are not a mouthpiece for their issues, just another person with their own compass of morality.
Keep up the good work and just stick to what you feel good writing about. Don’t do anything because someone tries to dictate to you that you do it.
I see what you do as a service, a gift, and a kindness. I like being invited into your house. I appreciate that you share you with all of us.
There’s enough retreating and sharing information and sharing platforms.
There is not enough people saying “depression lies” or being vulnerable or using the word “cunt.”
Thank you. That’s it. Just Thank you.
OMG thank you sooo much for not writing about every fundraiser/terrorist attack/etc. I get enough of that on facebook and it weighs on me. I can only take so much and reading your blog is one of my “breaks” from all the bad crap and buzzing people. When you’re depressed/anxious, getting that stuff throw in your face again and again is tiring. Thank you for standing firm and being our shield against those things. Besides, you host your own odd fundraisers and they’re awesome ^_^ James Garfield is a freakin humanitarian. I can’t add much to your song, but I think it might need more goats dressed as sunflowers 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKVioHC8CYY
Reblogged this on bankinmursel.
my song today is that i’m running a fever and orange juice with lots of pulp is wonderful and bless you sugar, YOU are wonderful, and i love you just the way you are. hugs and hugs
Yes, all of this.
You go girl! <3
Reblogged this on MsCoral's Blog.
I think you are right in a million ways.
We own our own biz and often people want to tell us how to run things or say we are going to fail if we don’t do things their way and etc… But the thing is they are never right. They only see their slice of the pie and we see the whole thing. Only people with limited site can believe so hotly in their own view without understanding that others have their own.
Many topic become rote and lose their meaning. Like “heroes”. It said so often about some groups without any real thought or meaning behind it that is has lost any punch. It is just what you say.
I come to your house to hear you and you bring me joy and vision and hope. Thank you
I think like you, you inspire me too write like you also.
No brilliant posts to add today. But I want you to know that I’m a hospice chaplain whose other job is working with people who live outside to try to make their lives a little better and that gives me some pretty strong opinions about what might help the world be a bit better place, so I volunteer a little bit doing community organizing too. And I want you to know that I need your blog exactly as it is. I need to laugh and to think about giant metal giraffes and evil elves and other things that are not part of my day to day experience and you give me that. I would be very sad if your song was drowned out by all those people who ought to just say what they mean for themselves on their own time. So thank you for not listening to them.
Love this.
and a song of mine – Tell Me Why
This is absolutely beautiful
Jenny, don’t change a thing about the way you write, PLEASE. You are amazing because of what you do and how you do it. If you changed anything about your blog because you feel pressured and not because you wanted to, it would be devastating all around. Keep being YOu, Jenny. That’s the greatest gift you can give any of us.
you’ve amazing. and hats off for your thoughts about racism & 9/11.
It’s totally all good. People understand, and if they don’t, hopefully they keep it to themselves. Although I AM a little sad that you won’t be crowd sourcing my latest invention, The Dick Detector. It’s a giant foam finger, and when someone is being a dick, it points at them. Powered by wind turbines, obviously.
Wow, you get a LOT of comments! I can’t wait for your new book to arrive, I’ve preordered it and can barely wait.
Well this might get lost in all your comments traffic, but here’s a couple of short animated videos that have helped me a lot. Both are by Dr. Brene Brown; one is about Blame and the other is about Empathy. She has a TED talk about Shame as well, that I really benefited from. Also, she’s funny and smart, like you Jenny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw
Tamara Benson
I’m fairly certain that my comment is just going to get buried in the mountain of responses to this fabulous post, but I’ll throw it out there anyway.
I’ve been happily chirping away on my own little blog for several years, and it’s only in the past year that anyone except a few random people and my mother-in-law has noticed it. I’ve gone from 30 to 200 followers. And I’m not sure how I feel about that. Because it seems like more and more people aren’t clicking ‘like’ and ‘comment’ because they’re interested in what I have to say and maybe want to join the conversation; they want exposure, followers for themselves, access to my audience.
Blogging is such a strange critter–for me, it’s a bizarre robot hybrid of Facebook, a diary, a stand-up comedy show, E!, and Huffington Post. It’s not a private space, but it is a personal space. You have a right to determine what goes on in your personal space. Speaking into the blogosphere comes with no other obligation than common decency…if you happen to make the world a better place because of your blog, that’s awesome sauce, but it’s not in the contract.
I wish more people understood that you don’t have to agree with people to be kind. That just because I don’t comment on something doesn’t mean I agree or disagree. Wonderful post. Kindness is so underrated in society. You don’t have to agree with me or even like me to be kind. #morelove #kindness #bringonthefunny #freedomofspeech #liberty
You should never feel wrong or bad about what you choose to write. We all flock to this blog to hear YOUR stories, YOUR thoughts. You share so much with us and do so much for us with your writing. You’re a wonderful, amazing person and we all know that without you pimping yourself out to a million activist causes. Stay true to who you are, because you are the hero we deserve. You are Batman.
I love this post!!! Please check out my page and subscribe. I am a new blogger and I love it ! I can’t wait to share my thoughts, inspirations and ideas with you all xx
TOTALLY agree with you, Jenny! Your house~your rules!
Jenny, I doubt we’ll ever meet, but I love you. Your song is beautiful. Keep taking care of yourself and share as things seem true to you. I can’t imagine the pressure, but I’m sending you rainbows and hugs and ice cones ♡
This was definitely a “YES!” post for me. Bravo.
I love your songs.
This is so well stated. You do what you can do and what you want to do. That’s all. I’m also in agreement about realizing that sometimes the asshole is us, and am so suspicious of people who never say this. Had a good friend who used to say, when you think you’re always right, you’re mostly wrong. So true!
Nooooo! Nooo to those ginger kittens losing their legs! You HAVE to save those kittens. As a cat lover it’s your moral duty. Never mind all the others. These are kittens and they are suffering.
As to the rest of this post. Yes.
My older sister stopped watching the news years ago, and it helped her attitude a million percent. She is now the Happy Earth Mother of Eastern Oklahoma. Sadly, for work I have had to re-immerse myself in the media maelstrom of crapola and death and evil and the horrific, which makes me want to stick my head in a stump grinder filled with wine. Anyway, thanks to the Internet, even though I’m in New Zealand, yesterday I watched the memorial service for Oklahoma sportscaster Bob Barry, Jr.. This was not some weird-ass stalker thing, because I went to Norman High School with Bobby about 900 years ago. Turns out, he grew up into a really, great man. He was interested in everyone. He helped everyone. He was kind and generous and humble and insanely loving to his wife and kids, and always funny. For me, knowing that there was a guy like that somehow helped me offset the mass dark evil out there. So, following is the link to BBJ’s memorial service. For me, the best talk was delivered by his wife’s best friend, for her. Maybe you guys will find it uplifting, too. It’s time for us all to work on being kinder, methinks. Past time. http://kfor.com/2015/06/26/bye-bobby-friends-family-remember-bob-barry-jr-at-memorial-service/
Anyone who calls it as they see it is real.Thats all anyone can ask.We all have our stuff,we all do.Thanks for what you.Its appreciated.
Brilliant 🙂
Reblogged this on teah9596.
Reblogged this on KENYONA R. COPELAND.
This fact is almost never pointed out in articles about this deluded woman: Rachel Dolezal’s parents, the lovely people who outed her and shamed her in front of millions of people, were and are extreme right wing, conservative Montana Homesteader, young earth creationists. It was a given she was going to be broken in some way or another, and by “broken”, I mean effin’ insane. But OMG, it was a very odd way for her brain to have fractured: she presented herself as the kind of person her parents probably feared and hated the most: a self-confident, well-educated, urbane black woman who spent her life fighting for the cause, i.e., lecturing other people on How To Be Better At Being Black.
“Those brilliant posts exist. I hope I’ve written a few.”
I think you just wrote one.
Reblogged this on kkuenovus and commented:
Terribly frank lady I like it
Reblogged this on artismbyshikha.
I read a lot of blogs that talk about depressing current events. They are usually op ed pieces and I love a good op ed. But the depressing subject sometimes makes me sad and so I come here to get a good LMAO moment?s. Usually I spend an hour reading posts that I’ve missed or one I’ve already read that had me in stitches. Thank you for being my own personal Jerry Seinfield mixed with Kevin Hart. What I mean by that is, you find the humor in nothing(like Jerry) but you have no problem making fun of yourself(like Kevin). BTW, I stay away from current even op ed pieces on my own blog. I’m very selfish and only talk about myself.
Good
Absolutely beautiful. I’m new to blogging and this is the first blog I have ever read (thought I would read up on some other people’s stuff and compare it to the thoughts in my head to determine whether or not I actually have anything worthwhile to say). You just gave me the jump start to the brave abandon I needed. Thank you so much.
nice
Depression Lies.
That has been my anthem lately. So thank you.
http://www.bellesbleues.com. The blog with the solution to change the world one post at a time. Join the ReBELLEion today! It provokes a conversation that leads to a happy life.
https://cayleaalexus.wordpress.com/
I hope to write as beautiful as this post someday. You’re amazing!
Here’s one of my current favorite quotes, from Nayyirah Waheed: “And I said to my body, softly. ‘I want to be your friend.’ It took a long breath and replied, ‘I have been waiting my whole life for this.'”
Reblogged this on In Ally's world.
Reblogged this on Hey Veronica Jude.
Reblogged this on ExMeOut.
“YES. FUCKING EXACTLY. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY BUT I COULDNT FIND THE WORDS FOR IT.” And keep singing YOUR song….I sing along sometimes….when I’m not in the corner humming to myself. Love you.
When I am sad and miss my friend who passed unexpectedly from anaphalatic shock, I read this quote and it always makes me feel a bit better. It’s from the book “If I Stay”
“In a way they have never left me. And that’s just it, isn’t it? That’s how we manage to survive loss. Because love, it never dies, it never goes away, it never fades, so long as you hang onto it. Love can make you immortal.” – Gayle Forman <3
Simple and easy. Kindness pass it on. It’s a mantra. 🙂
I just wanted to say Thank You, I have been feeling quite the same thing lately. And you NAILED the description putting it into words for me!!! Thank you for sharing your humor, your foibles and your arguments with Victor, its all YOU
Thanks for your blog!!
I gobbled up this post in a matter of seconds. Thank you
Jenny, you are my hero. Whenever I forget that life is not meant to be taken that seriously, you remind me. I have laughed more in a week listening to your book than I have in a year.
thanks for continuing to write 🙂 i definitely don’t need you to be all the things all the time, i really just enjoy when you are you.
Reblogged this on missasomani.
Reblogged this on SmallestStorm.
Why do we feel guilty simply being human?
Just what I have been feeling, but so perfectly stated.
I came to the end of your post, saw how many comments there already are, and got a bit discouraged. I hope you see this. I’m sure you’ve already read The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (and if you haven’t you should – it’s absolutely one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read and is about a girl struggling with mental illness.) But I think you would fall in love with Holy Skirts by Rene Steinke. It’s another book based on a true story about a baroness who slowly loses her mind because of an untreated syphilis infection. It is, without a doubt, the most beautifully written book I’ve ever read and my favorite book in the world. I think it would speak to you on many different levels. Thanks for writing this post.
This is awesome. Thank you.
Reblogged this on ahigherconscious.
so well said! My song is a quote I love “Memento Vivere”. It means “remember to live”.
Side note, you are going to make sure the orange cats get to keep their legs though, right?
Jenny – don’t ever change. Rerthe first one re-reading the first book (again) because. well. i. can. keep it real – that’s why we are here…
Rerthe?!? Really…. ^^
Stunning writing! A beautiful piece. So honest.
Yeah, this is pretty legit. Thx for the great read!
Some other dude in the comments, earlier, mentioned this song — he and I will be earworm buddies, and now I’m offering the link so everyone can join in on the fun.
Oh Bloggess, my Bloggess — you’re brilliant, and you make me smile.
My life isn’t going so well right now in a lot of ways, and it’s hard to get the energy to care about huge world-changing events when your own home is falling apart (both literally and psychologically). But sometimes, there’s something out there that catches you and makes you think outside your world. You remind me that even when we’re far away and different from each other (we Canadians are weirder than you think) there’s a lot we can learn from each other if we shut up long enough to listen.
You’ve inspired and changed my way of thinking many times and you should never stop.
Also, shame is never a good motivator for change. I purposely don’t share “do this or kittens will explode” posts because I want to slap people for guilt-tripping me.
Good for you. Write about what you want to write about. Not what people want you to write about. Round of applause, definitely 😍
Teen pregnancy is still stigmatized as much as “back in the day” and the girls still get the blame for it. No one says anything to the boys other than “atta boy you nailed her ” and there are no repercussions for them. Girls are told they have “choices” but when they make their choice they are still shamed no matter what that choice is. For just once, give that teenage girl a smile, your support, a helping hand, or say something positive to her instead of a scowl, that frown of disapproval or calling her a slut.
I love this post because it underscores one of my favorites: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Gandhi
Maybe this explains what happened to my orange kitty’s missing foot. If only that email hadn’t gotten caught in your spam filter.
Sorry, I know this was a completely inappropriate response to your serious blog. I truly apologize and hope it’s not something I’m going to look back on later and think “Wow, that was a real dick move. What the shit, me?” I love your blog; you are doing a great job. One person cannot solve all of the world’s problems, no matter how great her blog is.
The way you feel and the way shown or showered towrds the world is so astounding !!! It realy gonna mean to helpful as light for a darkness world to spark the light of loving and kindness!!
Reblogged this on Here's what's on my mind.. and commented:
Great.. just great
“We don’t always get to choose our causes. Sometimes our causes choose us.” “each of us is flawed and human and (in the grand scheme of things) knows nothing. Because I’ve come to know that the only thing I really know is we could all do with a little more kindness.” Yes. This. <3
#supergenius #sincerely
Wow is all that i can say im so glad to see another individual promoting kindness! We need more people in the spotlight like you that have large audiences to help spread positivity! Great piece.:)
o my gosh it like another world here so many blogger, so many comments, so many lives been impacted. I just started blogging and I love your writing.
Reblogged this on Flora's Musings… and commented:
I love this post!!
Our blogs are exactly that ours, we post what we want to not what we feel we should, surely that’s the whole point!!
Reblogged this on hskarato and commented:
Interesting. Keep it up.
I constantly forget to come here and that is just so. stupid, because I absolutely <3 LOVE <3 it here. This is your home on the web and it’s so warm and welcoming (and fucking hilarious, too, obvs!) and you’ve made it feel like home for so many of us, too. I have no freaking idea how you handle all the communications you get. Lately, I keep letting my FB notifications get behind and then FB is so un-user-friendly about going through stacks and stacks of notifications and I get so stressed out. And then I think, “How on earth does Lynn Terry or Sam Crowley or Luria Petrucci or the oh-so-awesome Bloggess even deal with the scads of messages I know they get??!”
Anyway, I forget to come here and I forget to reach out on social media or check out what funny stuff you’re spewing onto the interwebs, but I am endlessly grateful to know you and be a part of your community.
Two of my favorite mantras/metta sayings:
May you be peaceful
May you have ease of well-being
May you reach the end of suffering
And be free.
–Toni Bernhard
I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the extraordinary light of your own being.
–Hafiz of Shiraz
Love this post so much. You are hilarious when you’re funny, and you’re profound when you’re thoughtful, so either way is a win.
I read a quote randomly yesterday while I was like searching “How to lock an Android phone that’s been stolen”, and I loved it, in passing, because there are people who I love the most, with whom I disagree on some really major points, but it doesn’t matter, because we love each other, and somehow this just…worked.
“For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t believe, no explanation is possible.” (insert the word “agree” for the word “believe”, and you’ll see what I mean)
It made me sad but also at peace, all at once, (YES, EXACTLY THIS) because if we all realized that, in all the yelling that’s going on in the world right now, none of the yelling is going to change anyone’s mind, so why can’t everyone just stop yelling and have a little grace with each other.
This made me cry. Why? Maybe because, even though I don’t write, I feel these same things. Why do I have to choose a side for every thing? Is there a reason I am not aloud to be indifferent? If I don’t chose the “right”side, why do I feel guilty. I always feel guilty because I am choosing the “wrong”side to someone. More and more I feel like I am not permitted to have my own opinions on matters. I am the one who has to hold it together. If I have an irrational moment, I am being a bitch.
It could be because I watched the movie “Inside Out” today and could feel and visualize the things you are having to deal with.
I apologize for rambling. I guess I just wanted to say thank you for writing the things I am feeling today.
Reblogged this on mrneillevi and commented:
I completely agree.
When Robin Williams killed himself last year, a huge hole was left not only in the comedic and entertainment community, but in the hearts and minds of those whose his comedy had touched. What’s more, it opened up a larger discussion about mental illness and those who mask their inner torment with a facade of bright lights, brilliant minds and raucous laughter. Many of us who survive daily with the “alphabet soup” of mental illnesses wondered if Robin had been too embarrassed, as we had often been, to be “out” in the entertainment community about his struggle with depression. Perhaps he thought that as a comedian of his stature, his laughter may never be taken seriously again. While we did our wondering, many of us grieved a man we merely knew as Mork or Mrs. Doubtfire or Patch Adams.
Out of these two things, White Friday (facebook.com/whitefridaylight) was born on Facebook. Our little community wanted to tackle three long-term goals: 1) honor Robin’s legacy by wearing white on the Friday following his date of death 2) Shine a bright WHITE light onto mental illness, thereby stunting the stigma and giving power to survivors of mental illness 3) Help Facebook users find a place to call “home”, a safe place to lay down their burdens, a place to come for information, inspiration, resources, companionship. In short, a soft place to lay their heart when it grew weary or troubled.
We’re not doctors. We don’t even play them on the internet. We’re survivors just like you, or her over there or him over here. But the one thing we do really, really well is kindness. If you are in need of a soft place to fall or if you have kindness to spare or share, please come look us up. And please join us on August 14, 2015 as we wear white to honor Robin, as we wear white to bring mental illness in out of the shadows, as we wear white to blot out the stigma that still somehow surrounds diseases like depression and anxiety, diseases that are no less “real” or systemic than diseases like ALS or lymphoma. SHINE BRIGHT, WEAR WHITE! #shinebrightwearwhite http://www.facebook.com/whitefridaylight
Reblogged this on eldeciryelhacer and commented:
Just great!
Brilliant
https://ekpereski.wordpress.com/2015/06/30/in-the-devils-court-1/ please check out my story. It’s nice 😇😇😇
You don’t have to fight EVERY battle. Leave something for the rest of us.
Brilliant and beautiful. And “YES. FUCKING EXACTLY. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY BUT I COULDNT FIND THE WORDS FOR IT” pretty much sums up this post.
I love this post and how succinctly you write. I am new to your blog but have heard mention of you on FB. Last year I began my journey of discovering whether or not blogging was for me. I didn’t know how to approach it. I felt as if I had to spend too much time sitting in front of a screen trying to make others like me and what I have to say. I have struggled to keep writing, only to feel as if I were in high school again trying to fit in. I didn’t like high school much because I didn’t fit in! I have recently randomly read posts and blogs from people I admire such as yourself who bravely just say it like it is. I have my own opinion on many topics but don’t always want to be writing about pop culture of the happenings at the White house. Sometimes I just want to write about something silly that my kids or my granddaughter has said or done. My point here although the long way around I suppose is that 1. I don’t have to write for an audience. 2. I can however write just for me and there are actually some people out there who want to read what I write. And last but not least, 3. It is okay to just be myself and be kind, positive and optimistic. I don’t have to fit in to be okay with myself and be accepted.
Sorry this was so long but your post really touched me and I felt compelled to share.
Peace and Love to you!! 🙂
How on earth do you get 1, 000 comments? I love it! I bow down to you.
Inspiring!
Yep. That is all. xo
Doctor Who.
Doctor Who makes me happy (very especially the 50th Anniversary episode because, as someone who has binge watched and very much enjoyed doctors 9-12 in the past 6 months – and wow, what a ride it’s been! – I happily submit it as one of my current songs. Because it’s a song (one of many — not all, but many!) we have in common. And it’s a song that ROCKS!!!
I’m sorry people are putting so much pressure on you. Thank you for BEING YOU. Thanks for the laughs. Thanks for the pictures. For the funny, scary, real things you post.
And thank you for posting so many many things that make me laugh out loud or say, “YES! That! Exactly that!!”
Take care.
Love this!
Yes yes yes…..!! You are the I, I’ve been writing about…..!!
Pladd42.wordpress.com/2015/06/23/hello-new-world/
Reblogged this on Overcomers and commented:
Beautiful, your words are like art.
This says it all. ” A song about horrible things and about wonderful things and mostly silly things that make the day a bit brighter for those twisted enough to appreciate it” Keep singing your own song!! Your song is what we’re all here for!! 🙂
AMEN:They are called boundaries- everyone needs to set them, respect them and live with them.
Thanks for this! Bravo! You’ve given me so much. Keep doing what you do Jenny
http://www.chiquessence.wordpress.com
https://ekpereski.wordpress.com/2015/07/02/in-the-devils-court-2/ please ya’ll check my story. It’s nice I swear.
From Sesame Street, on singing songs with everyone else:
Reblogged this on onegumi and commented:
Deep thoughts
I am saving this beautifully-written post for my kids to read when they get older. They already know that Prince is badass, but everything else is EXACTLY what I want them to know about how to be strong in their own beliefs in the crazy world around them.
Beautiful !….you are awesome
https://newsalwayz.wordpress.com/2015/07/03/nsa-leak-confirms-skynet-is-forrealbut-no-actual-evidence-of-terminators-as-yet/
Thank you
Reblogged this on trisharoche666.
You have made me laugh so very inappropriately on the subway. Many, many times. Once, a lady leaned over when I was convulsing and said, “That book had the same effect on me.” See? Mission accomplished.
I just fell in deep, deep love with you all over again. My heart is full.
Love the writing
You help me remember that it’s ok to be me. So thanks for that. I think you are beautiful inside and out. 😉
Excellent. .
Your blog was one of the very first blogs I have ever had the pleasure to read. You are awesome and when people are awesome I think being bombarded by other people and their causes comes with the territory. Hang in there! 😀
Diggin’ your message.
Amen – and how about “Get your own blog!!!” 🙂
Fabulous piece
Beautiful! Edgar Melo e Costa
And it’s a very, very, very fine house. Don’t ever change. Or like, you know, do. Either way, I’m in.
YES. THIS. I wanted to pick my favorite parts but I can’t. ALL OF IT. I want to print it out and plaster it on the walls. I want to shrink it onto a laminated card for every pocket. I want it on all of the billboards. Maybe it’s weird from an internet stranger but I love you (obviously in the good ways, not in the creepy ones). THANK YOU.
Reblogged this on Rey and commented:
Love this piece!
Wow loved reading this. I totally hear you on so many points – it’s why I’ve spent the past year with my simple happy moments and why I’m not stopping… http://happydaysforlife.com/whats-this-all-about/
So Beautiful <3
I’ll share something. You may have already seen it but you might like the show Derek on Netflix. Kindness is the main theme and it’s wonderful. It makes me feel good on bad days and it might you too.
Reblogged this on eoz7.
😃😃😃
I often have these “YES. FUCKING EXACTLY. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY BUT I COULDNT FIND THE WORDS FOR IT.” when reading your page. So many people who battle depression need someone to speak for us because we’ve forgotten how to use our own voices.
I also find my inspiration from the locally started now international movement called #oneforjames. It is about sharing kindness through small acts that brighten someone’s day. I find that even in my darkest holes I still have room for a One for James moment. And I’ve realized thatit helps me too. Puutting a smile on someone else’s face often makes me smile too!
Look up the One for James facebook page or find it on Twitter
Reblogged this on mwalimumusah and commented:
I love this
I really don’t know how many times and to how many organizations and individuals I have written to soliciting for these kids’ scholastic aid but with no single positive response. is there anyone who can help me on how to go about it. thanks in advance. http://www.kimulimodelpr.wordpress.com
Wow
I don’t have anything to share today, except my comment;
Which is here to say Thank-you for opening the door when I wanted to enter your house xx
Oh. My. Goodness! What a beautiful post. It puts me in mind of Neil Gaiman’s powerful prose. The rhythm of the piece is brilliant.
Gosh I’m sounding a bit pretentious now so I’ll shut up 🙂
Reblogged this on Camelia Angels.
Wow!
Nice post
Reblogged this on positivehealingfortoday and commented:
It’s fulfilling to be kind and compassionate
Reblogged this on ssharma1991 and commented:
Awesome writing
Love😍
Reblogged this on agesgist.
Lovely post. Thank you
nailed it, love your grammar. genuine viewpoints, sincere character. I’m literally attracted to your text, like Kenya said… WOW! check my blog n tell me what you think of my stuff, postspanishrevolutionmeetsmoderndaynewyorkcitychic, *kisses
I have the same opinions, maybe we can connect. Honest with yourself. | fonzandcancer
https://fonzandcancer.wordpress.com/2015/07/19/honest-with-yourself/
THUMBS UP!
That was awesome! Would love to read more from you. Keep it up!
Just telling someone that they are awesome. I loved this.
Awesome!
This: http://thebloggess.com/2013/02/xanax-makes-me-a-better-mom-because-its-xanax-now-fuck-off/
It helped my Mum heal herself and her guilt at needing time out from care giving so she could cope with the fact that her mother was dying of breast cancer and she couldn’t stop it.
You don’t need to sing anyone else’s song, your own song is extraordinarily important and so many [all] of us would rather hear your song than you parroting someone else’s.
(and Beyonce, he helps me every single time I need a lift. 15yrs, big metal chickens).
Would you support my fundraiser against slimy people who guilt you into supporting their fundraiser? Just kidding! 🙂 Thank you for your post!
Reblogged this on The journey. .
Reblogged this on Prof. Janni Aragon's Blog.
Reblogged this on amariaguicheff and commented:
Muy bueno
Dear Bloggess, I’m glad you are sticking up for yourself. You are an amazing writer, and I cherish the gifts of words you bring me. Reading your blog delivers humor, intrigue, and friendship. Your post on Beyonce was the first one I read, and honestly I come back to that one all the time when I need a laugh. I would love to have little bits of ridiculous like that in my life. There is another post I come back to often about how sometimes just doing the bare minimum is also doing our best, and that’s ok: http://www.negharfonooni.com/2014/10/27/doingyourbest/.
Knock knock, motherfucker. 😉
Nice one, inspires me a lot, good job The Bloggess.
Your world is reflected by your thoughts – very interesting perspective! http://www.thebusinessarchive.com
👏👏
I’m so glad I found you
You may have noticed an upswing on the sale of your book Furiously Happy, you can thank me! I am not passionate about much of anything, except animals, chocolate and laughter. I enjoyed your book so much that I decided that my friends should all read it also. I did not want to take the chance that they would just take my word on how great it was and purchase it themselves, so I have been buying copies and giving them to all I know and some I don’t. Either way both groups look at me like I have lost my mind. Those that know me never question that. Several who know I am on a fixed income give lectures about saving money. These are the same people that go on expensive trips, that do not make them near as happy as reading your books!
Anyway you have brought me great joy and I could just hug tight.
Dixe
Big O Tires
Good for you! Keep those boundaries, it’s your writing, it’s your space. PS- Boggle is awesome!
i dont have house