If you’re subscribed to my art substack you already got this letter from me, but I’m also posting it here just in case you need it:
This is a stressful week for a lot of us and that’s probably why this came out of me when I turned off the world and stopped to draw…
Normally I alway write words on every drawing but I don’t have them for this doodle yet. What I do have though is the knowledge that even though the future is a place we can never see clearly, so many of you hold a light up in the world…so many of you are a light in this world. We may not be able to see what comes ahead but I know that no matter what, I’m here with you…around a flickering candle that will continue to shine. And I know that when my candle goes out you’ll lend me your flame…and vice versa. That’s how hope grows. That’s how kindness spreads.
Thank you for shining in a world that sometimes appears dark. It may seem such a small ember, but it glows like a lighthouse in the world, reminding us that we are so very far from being alone.
I super crazy love you,
~ Jenny
I super crazy love you, too.
I’m super crazy scared
Lovely and sort of Goreyesque
Jenny, this is super crazy beautiful. And so are you. <3
This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I do believe everything will be okay, and I love how you talked about being a light in the world. We can all be a source of good. Thank you for being a light in my world.
We love you too!
Beautiful. Thank you. <3
Lady, you are always thinking of others. Thank you for lighting a candle.
Thank you!💙🕊️💙
Apart from the obvious nation-wide worry today, this is my first full day unemployed (was laid off yesterday morning). So, seeing an email from a writer I trust and respect with the words “It’s gonna be okay,” meant even more. Thank you.
Thank you Jenny. I holding onto hope.
Needed and appreciated. Thank you!
Thank you for relighting my candle today. Love you right back.
thank you. needed this very much today. hugs. and occasional giggles – just in case we trip and the candle wax goes everywhere…
To #10 Chris M., you are going thru SO MUCH today and in the coming days/weeks, it’s just unimaginable. I am sending you encouraging thoughts and a virtual hug, and I will echo Jenny’s message that ‘It’s gonna be okay.”
Thank you for the brightness just when we need it!
I SUPER love you too!
Thank you for reminding me that I too can be a light in this world. Keep on shining.
Thanks, Jenny. I needed that today. Love you crazy, too!
Thanks, Jenny — I REALLY needed this today! Crazy Love You Back!
Your candle is a Harbor light showing us the way out of our darkness.
Kindness is contagious. Hate metastasizes. Being kind makes YOU feel good too.
Awww Jenny. You are the best. ❤️
I super crazy love you!!!
Jenny, oh my goodness. Your drawing and your kind, generous words have really touched my heart. Thank you! I’m seeing this and feel so very lucky that you are sharing your light with us in this way. Thank you!
Oh, Jenny. You have lent me your light in the darkest of hours and days and weeks, when my heart and spirit were breaking and broken. Thank you. I wish I had a blog so that I could sort of repay you, even though I’ve not pulled my life quite together yet. 💔❤️🩹💝 But as you say, we will do this thing together.
Thank you, Jenny. I’m spending the evening with my trans child watching Ted Lasso and hoping that at the end of this long labor, it’s a girl!
Hugs, everyone that’s scared.
Maybe words will come later tonight…
I sat here and stared at the blackness in the door until I convinced myself that there is a tiny blue flame flickering on the other side.
You don’t need words for that wonderful drawing. Love to us all.
Thank you, Jenny. I super crazy love you right back. Thank you for being a light in this world.
-Back atcha, gorgeous
Needed this today – thank you. And right back at you!
💗
I’ve never used my “Calm” app so much in my life. Stomach hurts. I won’t be able to go to sleep not knowing what’s going on, and I probably shouldn’t watch but I’ll be preoccupied with it whether I watch or not, so I’m watching. I also have state and local ones to follow. Ugh. I miss when election day was boring. I’m trying to remember that we will fight for what we believe in either way.
I love you too, Jenny!
Perfect for this time we’re in
🥰
Beautiful drawing and beautiful words. Thank you for some kindness and gentleness.
I posted on fbook, but
friends, no matter what happens today or in the coming days…take a deep breath. breathe in. breathe out. the flame of hope is still lit. and i’ve got watch. go. rest. sleep. recharge. the fight begins anew.
I super crazy love you and your fans, because you all are so compassionate to each other in this troubled and crazy world.
And we are not alone in this world, we are all in this together.
Even if things don’t turn out like we might want them to, remember, it’s always darkest before the dawn, and dawn is beautiful. And there’s always another dawn in this world. So keep holding onto that thought no matter what.
Only love can conquer hate.
Peace, love and kindness to us all.
That’s beautiful. Thank you.
Beautiful – thank you for sharing this kind and beautiful inspiration 💕
Your light is so special to me. Thank you for sharing the art and support!
I need to know it’s really going to be ok
I really needed to hear this. Thank you. And love back atcha!❤️
Love you and so grateful to you in so many ways for so many things.
Thank you for your lighthouse-sized candle that chases away my darkness. Really needed this tonight!
oh my, thank you
Your “doodles” are always amazing art. I’m trying very hard to hold on, but I can’t watch the news. I’m scared and stressed, and I feel like I am drowning.
What if it isn’t okay – I’m terrified
That is beautiful.
Rider21
Dear Jenny
The picture is wonderful, but you are the light, so I thank you. I dont know if you read every comment, but thought you need to know what an impact you have had on me. I came across your blog over ten years ago liked it for its humor uniqueness and creativity. I also liked that it wasn’t political but inspirational.
Your illness could have had you sitting in a corner, but you put yourself out there every day despite it.
I am still reeling from what just happened. It feels like collective sanity is gone. But there is a term that I really liked “Defiant Optimism”. Yes, the Thing will make the next few years horrid, but many, like the people on this blog have already chosen kindness and support. Our collective evolution must be empathy and calling people out for being a…holes to eachother and I see it happening already. Keep providing creative nourishment for us and may you run this blog for many years to come. We need it more than ever.
Thank you for sharing that. I’m getting ready for work as though it’s another normal day- but it isn’t.. There was never any truly normal but this…. This is the Upside Down. I absolutely love the drawing! Keep shining -all of you!!! ✨
that’s a beautiful image…I’m planning on posting it above my desk. i love it. thanks for all the sharing that you do. you are an amazing light to all of us.
I needed that picture today… thank you so much for sharing it!
Thank you for being your amazing self. On the days I need to hear reassurance (for any reason) you always have a post up that day that settles my soul. Love you like crazy ❤️
💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Love you, Jenny! Thanks for making the world a better place.
That’s beautiful because I feel like that black door to darkness today and I’m afraid what’s behind it. Thank you for shining your light.
I don’t feel like it’s gonna be okay. I feel like it’s gonna be four years of chaos and law-breaking, just like last time. I don’t like my country right now. It doesn’t feel like my country. I’m shattered, and I fear for my mental health. Sorry this is so negative.
(It’s okay. Your feelings are valid. But we’ll keep fighting. ~ Jenny)
Middle of the night, in my darkness, I turned to my toolbox and pulled out a comfort blanket, Furiously Happy. It got me through and for that I thank you.
Thank you so much Jenny. We love you too! Thanks for knowing we needed this. Hang on everybody, & let’s keep helping each other as best we can.
Thank you, Jenny, and much love to you and everyone reading this. We are not alone and we will get through this together.
Thank you for so much, and, now this. Your drawing was a big help and a great reminder. Mahalo.
❤️❤️❤️
And we super crazy love you right back. I am the co-chair of my union local’s Politcal Action Team (We call ourselves Aunt PAT – not Uncle Sam). Tonight we held an informal zoom. A safe space for anyone to come and talk about how they are feeling today. I didn’t know how much more I needed it than the people we were holding it for. (sorry, punctuation and syntax is not in my wheelhouse tonight.) We all shared. And much like the light in this drawing, we kept reminding ourselves that we are here for one another. That we have an elephant sized amount of work to do, but, as a team, we CAN eat that elephant, one spoon at a time. And with so many taking a bite, we may get more done than we could ever imagine.
*no disrespect to or encouragement to eat thereof intended to any and all elephants. it’s just such a good metaphor!
I was finally able stop crying and the first this I did was come to your blog. Thank you for the drawing. Any hopeful thoughts are accepted. Because, I unfortunately have fallen to the bottom. To live in a world full of hate/darkness/ and fear feels too much. I know depression, and anxiety which have tried to control my life for at least 50 years. Today I know, I need patience, and to love my broken self and I will return.
When I rise from the hole of darkness there is a beautiful, innocent five year old grandchild waiting to shine her light on me. Until that day, I will pray for the patience to find myself again, and find the loving, caring, good people out there….
Thank You Jenny. I feel a little better.
Thank you, Jenny. Together we all shine brighter.
Love you back. Ram Dass said we are all just wlking each other home, or something like that. I love the idea of just seeing each other through, and that you are part of my tribe. <3
Thank you so much. I really needed this!
Thank you! I needed that.
Back at you. Ain’t going to lie, going down this road again is going to be hard. But if we stick together hold on tight and show up when some of us are struggling with the nonsense. We can and will ride out this nasty stretch.
I like bread.
Jenny, this is a beautiful and heartfelt message. Your drawing is a powerful visual representation of hope and resilience. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we can find light and connection. Thank you for sharing your art and your words. They’ve touched my heart.
khalidelarbi
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