Every once in awhile I share the weekly letter I send out from my drawing substack because not everyone understands how to sign up (hi mom!) and so they can read it here. This is one of those days:
Dear friend.
This week I was feeling a combination of helpless and full of rage and so I drew something terrifying because for some reason drawing dark horror and phantoms and the existential monsters I see in my dreams is cathartic, and part of me wants to share those images because I think many of you could relate, but I also don’t want people to be like…wait…did I ask for drawings of wolves prowling inside your house and eyeless women screaming blindly into the raging wind? And no, of course you didn’t because no one would sign up for that. But the lovely thing is that after I get all of my angst and fear out on the paper I feel calmer and remember that the bad guys want you to feel helpless and terrified, and that most of the world is actually good and kind and loving and protective…they just don’t get as much press. And so then I can take a deep breath and start again, drawing something just as true and cathartic…but with the hope and care that I want to put out into the world and feel myself.
So that’s where this doodle came from. We all have to live together and each of us has our struggles and loves and fears. We are each unique but we are all together. And the only way we get through the hard times is remembering that we are far from alone. Be brave. Be strong. But don’t allow the world strip you of your gentleness and your kindness. Love wins. Hope can be a quiet revolution. In other words:
“Hey. We all have to live together. So try not to be a dick.”
I ran out of time before I finished because cross-hatching is hard but I sort of like it unfinished and a little raw and imperfect…just like us.
In fact, here’s a picture from before I started shading in case you want to print it out and work your own magic on it yourself. After all, humanity is a group project. (And we all know how fucking hard those can be.)
I super crazy love you,
Jenny
Ps. You can subscribe to my substack for free. Some of the posts are just for paid subscribers because they keep me in pens and paper and make me meet my deadlines (thank you!) but the vast majority of my readers are free and the majority of my emails go to everyone. I feel a little bad that my paid readers don’t get as much exclusive emails as some other creators parse out, but I also suspect that anyone who contributes to my substack would not begrudge others the joy (and confusion) of getting my emails. I’m so lucky to have you all.
I copy/pasted this into Facebook and I gave you credit as the person I stole it from.
No one gets to tell you what to think or feel or DRAW!! These are your interpretations of your feelings and your thoughts…YOUR visions. You, your words, your art your thoughts are a gift you give and f@#k anyone who doesn’t see the beauty in ALL of it!!
I want to tattoo “Don’t be a Dick” on everyone’s arm. But that would probably be a dick move.
Oh please……..I love you too. Don’t be a dick is right on!
But where is the wolf and eyeless women picture?
Awesome!
Yes, we all live together on this big blue marble swirling in the universe, and we sink or swim together.
Don’t be a dick is the very least we can do to live in harmony.
If we can be anything in this world, please try to be kind.
Super love all my fellow humans out there!
I kinda need the dark pics. It’s hard to be positive when the country is a dumpster fire with worse to come.
Trying not to be so negative but I’m pissed for my daughters, nieces and great nieces.
Love you, Jenny!❤️
This? This really, REALLY needs to be on a tee shirt…a nice, washed color, w/the stark black lines…If you make it, I’ll buy it and wear it proudly.
I love this! Wheaton’s Law FTW!
And seriously, some of us do need to see the wolves and the eyeless woman screaming into the wind. The catharsis is real. (You can maybe put it behind a cut if you think it’s too severe for most of us – but, c’mon Jenny: we follow YOU, and seek out, read & view YOUR stuff, so we pretty much know how it is by now. I think we had a similar discussion with you about the 3 am anxiety monster you did that was so amazing, and I’m pretty sure there was no death or blood loss on our end as a result of it. And don’t forget – representation matters in ALL kinds of media, whether it’s typical DEI subjects such as race and LGBTQIA+, or neurodiversity and mental health.) You got this. We love you super hard!
Thank you, so much!
I am in the process of decrapalating my office/crafts-guest room/blanket fort cave, and this is going to be one of the many things framed and hung where I can see it.
I may even fire up my ancient “Paint Shop Pro 7” and colorize the tiny homes.
To resurrect a very old phrase, you’re the bomb, Jenny. What a neat drawing. I like the version that’s partly shaded, the first one. I’m experiencing bad chronic pain lately; it happens when I haven’t walked or done physical therapy home exercises in a while and then I start again. Hate it. Anyway, I’m set up for a discussion about ALL of my meds this week, from 3 separate prescribing doctors, and I’m actually kind of happy this is happening. Onward and upward. This too shall pass. Good > Bad. All you need is love. Surround yourself with found family. Etc.
Jenny, you are a treasure! I would like to buy this as a print. Is that a possibility? This is the message all of humanity needs to hear!
I super crazy love you back!
If my parents were still alive, they’d probably say that “Don’t be a dick” was their motto. That’s how they raised us, how I raised my kid, and how they’re raising my grandkids. I spent a lot of time talking with the grandkids about the Golden Rule when they were growing up, but “Don’t be a dick” is more succinct.
We love you too!
I crazy love you too!
<3
What you said about paid Substack members is true, in my opinion. If my paid subscription helps you offer content to even one other person, how could I be anything but delighted about that?
Also, I hope you feel as though you can share the dark stuff, too. ❤️
We need this in stickers/magnets!
Hi Jenny
Thank you and love ya back. When I first came across your blog a decade ago, life was good, so you being you was fun to read. Monsters horror did not bother me. Then something really awful happened to me and all of a sudden, images that never bothered me would trigger me into anxiety attacks.
I understand the catharsis, but right now seeing images that I don’t expect are triggering. I personally really appreciate it, because you get it and there is still kindness out there. Makes me feel less alone and I don’t want to start avoiding every blog.
I love you and your family. I am a lawyer who assists LGBTQ+ persons in estate planning. I stumbled upon your book Furiously Happy while buying Christmas gifts several years ago. I bought your book for myself and I have bought every other book that you’ve ever written. I follow your blog and I think you are an amazing person for raising such a beautiful person. I am a big believer in everything happens for a reason. Because when I started following you, your your little girl had not yet come to the realization that she was questioning. I just loved your Irma Bombeck type humor about regular life because it resonated with me. It turns out that I understand your position, being parent of a beautiful person who a lot of horrible people in our country do not understand. There are more people out here who love you than who hate people who are different from them. Don’t ever forget that. We all have our demons, but those of us who truly love other humans will always be there for you. Please don’t stop being you because that is the most important thing in the world. I am a friend in the northeast where it is safe. My daughter moved to Scotland, where it is safe, so I have two spare bedrooms open. Kristi
Get comfortable with the controls: Snow Rider typically requires you to use the arrow keys (or a similar setup on other Snow Rider devices) to control your rider’s movements.
This is an awesome depiction of a principle I wish everyone understood!
We are making long term plans to move to a state where the majority party doesn’t target most of my family…
*Sighs in Idahoan.*
Continually fighting discriminatory laws was bad enough on a state level.
Why are people?
I think I need a break, before I *have* a break…
Delurking to say you’re awesome, and I am still buying your books for people because everyone needs them
I enjoyed reading the article you shared—thank you for introducing me to it!
And I love the reminder that things that are incomplete and imperfect can still be powerful, just like people. Keep creating. Keep sharing.
Unleash your inner acrobat and conquer the chaos in Wacky Flip
Haha, the title alone wins! This kind of blunt, slightly crude truth is often the most effective. I’m gonna stick this phrase on my monitor to remind myself and my colleagues daily. Finally, recommend a stress-relieving drift boss game.
octordle forces you to guess 8 words at the same time, in a maximum of 13 attempts. This requires you to think quickly, remember well and analyze logic extremely accurately. It helps you improve your language skills, reflexes and problem-solving ability.
This article offers a viewpoint from which we can comprehend and scrutinize reality. PlayWacky flip, a free ragdoll flip game!
Just like sharing personal newsletters for wider connection, DixMax Mac lets creators and users share their favorite shows and movies easily, helping everyone stay connected and enjoy together.
I really like your letter! I think it’s good to share feelings. Drawing scary things helps you feel better, and that’s nice.