Our community is amazing. It’s so strange and lovely and large that sometimes I just watch it from the edges and feel lucky to be a part. If you are here you are a part of that community, even if you’ve never commented here. You are here and you are special and I’m so grateful for you. You have saved me. You have saved each other. You do not know your power.
The hard part of having a community is that grief is the tax you pay when we lose people we love. You may already know that last week a much-loved member of our community, Cheo Jackson, died suddenly and unexpectedly. He was funny and irreverent and reached out to others and (like his wife Anya) was an ardent and supportive member of #thebloggesstribe. Today is his birthday and he always said that he wanted a party to celebrate his life rather than a somber funeral, so today -with Anya’s blessing- community members will celebrate him and his family by filling the day with random acts of kindness and joy.
Do something good and kind. Laugh loudly. Don’t wear pants. Tell people you love them. Embrace ridiculousness. Be unapologetically yourself. Inspire others. Inspire yourself. Salute the brave.
I’ll go first. Today I will send books to a juvenile rehab center that needs donations. Today I will smile at strangers even if they don’t smile back. Today I will pay for the person behind me in the drive-thru and I will leave toys in the park and I will try harder to forgive myself for not being perfect. I hope you’ll join me.
We’ll miss you, Cheo. But you’re still with us. You always will be.
Now go be happy, y’all.
*******
And on an entirely different subject…
Shit I made in my shop (Named “EIGHT POUNDS OF UNCUT COCAINE” so that your credit card bill will be more interesting.):
Shit-you-may-or-may-not-want-to-see:
- So much accomplishment.
- Furiously Happy is now in Russian. And in two volumes for some reason. And takes place on the moon?
This week’s wrap-up is brought to you by INSYL, a unique and innovative publishing company that strives to educate young minds on the importance of financial literacy for the future. Created by a team of teachers, educators, illustrators and writers to teach children what the current schooling system doesn’t, they specialise in financial education, positive psychology and artistic consciousness. Also, check out their cool kickstarter.