I wasn’t going to write anything today because I’m in a depression and that makes my head into mush, but then I looked at a comment on my last post that was utterly infuriating and I started to highlight it and scream about how terrible people can be and then I stopped and took a breath and realized that 1) anyone who would leave a comment complaining about the fact that I (*checks comment again*) have cancer is definitely hurting in a way that will not be remedied by me screaming at them and 2) that it can be really easy to lose your cool at strangers (and loved ones) right now because so many of us are furious about the world today. We are not meant to be able to handle this level of constant stress that comes from seeing people being brutalized and hurt. The fury boils over into so many places because it often has nowhere else to go.
I put my time and money into helping the world be better than we are. I call and write to politicians. I amplify others voices who are being quieted. But it can often feel like this is not enough…and that frustration can turn into fury that turns into cruelty to others…and sometimes even inward causing us to hurt ourselves.
If my depression wasn’t lingering I might have better words than this, so please forgive me for not making more sense…but I just want to say that your work DOES make a difference. Your kindness and understanding and grace and compassion breeds more of those things.
This doesn’t mean that you should just take the hurtful bullshit or allow people to hurt you. Use that hurt and anger to spur you on in positive ways. And perhaps my way of dealing with things is more quiet than yours. That’s okay. It’s takes all kinds of people and techniques to become the best versions of ourselves. But be gentle to yourself. Take care of you. Protect your heart. Take breaks. Find actions that will make positive changes in the world and to yourself.
Do not let the world turn you brittle and mean. Your kindness is not weak. Your softness is not quiet.
I hope this makes sense.
And on another (slightly-related) subject, I’ll be at the Bryan + College Station Library System this Saturday for a little read/talk/signing and it’s free to attend! Libraries are being attacked right now in so many ways so if you’re in College Station Tx come support your library and see me. And if you’re not near College Station, go to your local library and get a library card if you don’t already have one. It makes a difference. (Also, it’s free to attend, but the first 50 people to register will also get a free copy of one of my books at the session. Whoop!)
I’m so sorry that someone treated you like that. Kudos to how you chose to handle it. I wish I could be at you talk but I will be reading your book as soon as I can get my hands on it
I love you so much 🤩
I have gifted your book more than a dozen times since reading it. I’ve bought 13 copies of Furiously Happy and given them all away.
Still trying to keep one for myself.
Thank you for bringing smiles and laughter to us unhinged, unstable and on the verge of a breakdown.
Much love
Tons to love to you, Jenny and a quick adios to your depression!
You are amazing. Thank you for reminding us to be kind to ourselves and those who are hurting so much.
Thank you for being who you are! I used to think it was ok for be to be prejudiced against people who are prejudiced. That is was ok for me to hate the people who hated ‘my kind’. That was wrong for me. I’m not a pacifist, but I do know that love is the answer.
Well, maybe I want to complain about you having cancer too. Just plain rude of you really.
I am so sorry that someone so miserable and sad tried to steal your light. Clearly someone needs attention through any means necessary.Thank you for being so amazing and kind!
It’s true that some people suck balls, but there are more that are good and decent humans. You Jenny are that person. Your empathy and kindness is undeniable. You are “good people “. I’ve followed you since the first time you purchased 🐓 “knock-knock mf!” You’ve been a joy to follow. It’s hard to not be hurt by others words, but I find that when I think of those who add positivity to my life, those negative opinions from strangers just don’t matter.
I truly admire your continued optimism. I’ve been circling the drain for a few weeks now and have recently had my meds adjusted in yet another attempt to be better. With that being said, I’m still not a hateful person. I’m sorry to hear that a person felt the need to build themselves up by tearing you down.
Jenny. There’s No Words….that I can say…that would take back the callous hurtful words from another. You are the Pearl in an oyster shell. A lone woman in this sometimes cruel world that has changed millions and I mean millions of lives for the better. Because of you….some people still exist! I wish I didn’t have depression….etc. because my words would be more eloquent
But when I saw your post today…I felt furious for you.
For me personally….you are a Life Guardian. I also Suffer from Treatment resistant depression, ocd, adhd, panic, autoimmune illnesses up the wazoo…chronic Lyme…Epstein Barr…I have brain lesions ( from what? Who knows). I watch you face hurdle after hurdle after hurdle…and tell myself…I can do that too.
YOU ARE MY HERO 🌟💜🌟
I shake my head at you apologizing for not having “better words”. I am envious of all your writing, but your “bad day” writing always strikes straight to the heart of things. Non illegitimi carborundum.
Kindness will always win in the end. Being hateful and unkind takes way more time than a mere smile. My pain in the behind mom always said “If you don’t have something nice to say don’t say anything at all”. Let’s all use our time more wisely. Speak more wisely. And if you need, just walk away.
Anyone who feels the need to be nasty to you, of all people, needs some help.
Wish I was close enough to see you at the library, but I don’t need a copy of Broken, because the year it came out, my husband and I surprised each other with personalized, signed copies. Very Gift of the Magi (or something.) They sit side by side in a place of honor.🙂
Your words make perfect sense, Jenny, and they sing to my heart.
Thank you, Jenny, for writing your blog even when you are too depressed to do so. You lift us all up with your humor and your interesting takes on situations.
But many of us are raised up by you just putting yourself out there when it feels like the last thing you want to do is write.
You are an inspiration. Love ya, lady!
If your blog isn’t for someone now, the way it used to be, that anonymous someone can keep their complaints to themself, and just not tune in. People change, blog topics change, as writers (who are human) change.. it sounds like the world is moving a little fast for anonymous. Maybe they can sit quietly with that until they feel ready to engage in a constructive way. But never you mind, Jenny – tons of us continue to love your honesty, courage, perseverance, and brilliant humor and insight 😊
Jenny,
I haven’t commented in a long time, but I have to say: You’re just the best.
Take care of you.
I don’t even know the comment you are referencing but complaining that YOU have cancer? That is da nutty.
You do good, you inspire, your dad is a roadkill taxidermist master, you haven’t killed victor (yet?), you stuck it to the old HOA but repurposing Bones Lancaster for different holidays, you have a rad store where you troll the haters with merch (I have the one-star review sweatshirt).
However, I do have a complaint about you…. and that is that you don’t visit San Francisco for a book talk it seems. I get Texas is big and that’s a lot of Texas stores to visit but we got a pretty cool bridge. And bread, lots of sourdough bread!
I’m trying so hard to give positive energy when someone is unnecessarily rude. It’s hard. I want to scream at everyone these days. I commend you for taking the high road!
Always the perfect words. You are such a light in this world that feels very dark right now. Love to you always.
Jenny, thank you for your kind, compassionate words.
Thank you for being a light in the darkness…. I live in Minneapolis where we are truly under siege and life is so very difficult.
Dear Jenny, dear Ms. Lawson! 🙂
Looking, reading and commenting as well from outside of the US (and Texas of course too) it is really good and helpful to see that quite obviously “not all Americans” are Trumpists or MAGAists (or whatever one might like to call them) and this gives me hope that perhaps there are even more people of your kind of thinking and that hopefully one day your country might get back to handling itself as well as the rest of the world in a “better” (whatever this might look like) way.
We as Germans had to learn our lessons the hard way and it’s really “funny” that another “German” (Donald Trump is clearly of German ancestry and his grandfather was one of the millions and millions of immigrants that make up the USA!) tries so hard to copy and repeat our former chancellor from Austria, Adolf Hitler.
There would be so much more to say and write and hope for but I guess this space is limited and all I can say is that I really hope for you and the other _nice_ US-Americans that they might learn from our history and reach decisions that are more clever than those that Germany chose some nearly 90 years ago. Before it’s too late and these cre… really manage to completely convert your country and lots of other parts of the world too into a big pile of broken pieces and lots of wounded and dead people.
Thank you once again and really wish you all the best! You and “South Park” give me hope for the US …! 🙂
Cheers, good health and once again all the best to you and like-minded nice human beings …! 🙂 You are really urgently needed that much as role models!!! 🙂
PS:
Really would have liked to fetch me one of your books directly from you but for obvious reasons I will thoroughly refrain from entering the US … 😉
(((HUGS))) I think it’s amazing that you were able to channel the hurt and anger to make something positive out of a turd sandwich.
It’s too easy to get sucked into the black vortex of someone else’s shitty behavior, and respond in kind.
The fact that you cared enough to think of them and how they were feeling to make them behave like that just shows what an awesome person you are. ❤️
Jenny, I’m so sorry – for you & for us all. As a writer & bookstore owner, I assume that you’re familiar with the writer Anne Lamott… but if you aren’t I can say that some of the only comfort I get these days is from reading her writing; she’s on FB but she also can be found on YouTube, & of course she’s been writing since at least the ’90’s. Like you, she’s funny & uplifting; give her a try if you haven’t already.
Sending love
Wish I could go! Sending love and hugs!
I miss my former self, from the before time. She isn’t quiet gone, but she’s lost. Anyway, it was probably an antagonist account, there’s so many of them and they’re just vile. Social media, man….
Jenny, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you. This sentence “ Do not let the world turn you brittle and mean. Your kindness is not weak. Your softness is not quiet.” started me sobbing. because I just got home from a new Thai restaurant in my community, we were going out to celebrate my husband‘s birthday. the chef came out to see how we liked the whole fish he cooked us. His English was broken, but we understood him and we could tell how much love he put into the dinner that he cooked for us. The waitress that waited on us had a pretty strong accent, and I don’t know where she was from but she was a lovely waitress. At the table next to us, there was a very loud man who was talking to his friend about replacement theory, the dying of the white race in the United States and about people that carry a gun and why it was OK they were shot while they were peacefully demonstrating. I was first just sad, then sick then mad and then I just filled up with hate and I really wish that they weren’t there. I was distressed at my reaction, And realized I was as full of hate as he was. And then I got home and read your comment and I just started sobbing and realizing that I do have a choice about who I am, I can’t change him, but I can try not to have so much hate for him.
Hi Jenny – it’ a world that at first glance seems filled to capacity with cruelty and damaged people, but zoom in a little and you’ll see some amazing human beings just being present and countering the ugliness. As a Minneapolis resident I can attest to this – there is evil out there, but there are most definitely more of us than there is of them. I have been witnessing to that for over a month of government siege tactics, and when this is finally done, it’s the good ones I’ll always hold in my heart. People just trying to do the right thing. People like you. Haters gonna hate, but love trumps hate every time. Sending you love, Barb in Minneapolis.
I love you Jenny. Thank you for being you, and for being so thoughtful and generous while you yourself are struggling. You are simply the best.
Dear Jenny,
Part of what makes you such a powerful beacon of light for all of us in this world who are struggling with our physical health, our mental health, our imperfectness, is that you embrace your flaws, your struggles, your weaknesses, the things that drive you nuts or make you scared or sad, and you find humor as a way to keep moving forward even when it’s really, really hard.
And you have created a forum where we can support each other, or complain about how we are struggling, and we can identify with and embrace our own flawed selves, and struggles, and try to keep on keeping on.
This is such a great gift you keep giving us even as you are facing things in your life that you are having a hard time with.
The person who made those comments, is probably less angry at you talking about your battle with cancer, then they are really, really mad at your cancer itself possibly taking your beacon of light away that you share with us, which helps them face their own demons.
Take heart, the vast majority of your fans and followers understand, accept, appreciate, and identify with your battles and monsters and we often have similar struggles, and so we totally have your back.
To the person or people who would make those kinds of comments, my heart goes out to those who are angry, scared, struggling, lashing out, and depressed at everything that’s going on in this world, and are barely holding on, or it’s making them want to crawl into a dark hole, or strike out at anyone or anything that happens to cross their path, towards things that they feel are adding to their pain.
I see you, and you have my deepest sympathies, because I know you are in a whole lot of pain.
Try to be kind to yourself, and treat others how you would like to be treated. Every little bit of kindness can help make this world a tiny bit better, and every little bit of unkindness, makes it a little bit harder.
Hi Jenny! Again, JUST what I needed to hear today. 😊 I am currently having lots of “big feelings” about my mother, an 88 year old with narcissistic traits similar to DJT 🍊 Fucker. Mom’s tactics are on a much smaller scale but she has been perfecting them for all of my almost 62 years. Now I better understand why I feel like everything is my fault and it’s my job to bend myself into an accommodating pretzel shape that will put every ounce of my energy into making Mom’s (and others) life better — of course at the expense of whatever/whoever I authentically am — whatever that is! 🥴. It’s only taken my WHOLE life to finally see clearly and actually believe that I am not a turd. Wow! Yay for becoming “myself” in my 60’s!! So….I do not have time for mean bullshit being dished out onto decent kind humans just because some selfish asshole needs to feel better about his/her self!!! 💡 The light bulb finally lit up in my brain! Sending you and all of us “sensitive” humans so much love, peace, and permission to be glorious Bad Asses!!!! 😆 Thanks, as always, for saying the things that I feel. Thanks for being YOU. ❤️🩵🩷💚
PS to No. 24:
Here in Germany there was a rerun of one of my all-time favourite movies, Groundhog Day, just yesterday evening And if one can “learn” anything from this movie it most certainly would (or at least should) probably be that even the most cynical people might perhaps realise that kindness, love and empathy and not arrogance, cynicism, disgust and hatred are the tools to make this world a better world! 🙂
Perhaps it’s not that bad of an idea to post a little quotation from this film:
“Phil: When Chekhov saw the long winter, he saw a winter bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet we know that winter is just another step in the cycle of life. But standing here among the people of Punxsutawney and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn’t imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter. From Punxsutawney, it’s Phil Connors. So long.
[applause]”
[Taken from here: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107048/quotes/%5D
Thank you
Thank you, Jenny. Thank you very much. It’s difficult right now and I fear it will get worse before our country finds its way out of this mess. I look forward to a time when we will have found better ways to prevent the abuses and lawlessness we’re seeing now.
I super crazy love you, too
Bravo, for turning your anger into trying to understand.
I really needed to hear this today as I’m leaving work furious with everyone! Wish I could make it to College Station. Never thought I’d say that about Texas, but it just goes to show you that there is always a lot to learn in this world.
I always feel sorry for mean people. Imagine how awful their lives must be? Good on you for turning shit into sunshine. You rock big time.
Thank you, Jenny! Depression lies and you are important to me.
I’m so sorry anyone was hateful and mean towards you. Your kindness is apparent in your posts and the things you’ve done in your life.
Take care of yourself and keep drawing, writing, living and loving.
PS: Dorothy Barker was not helping you the other day. Guess she’s a girl that doesn’t give a hoot about personal space.
Love you!!
You are so right and also right to yell at horrible troll on the internet and yes once in while it’s great to get upset and even greater to know those disgusting people can’t answer you back so win win and I agree the world is falling apart but WE the reasonable and peaceful crowd will Allway HAVE YOUR BACK AND FRONT!!! and if you get angry again because of mourons ; take a big fluffy pillow and scream in it and and shake it hard but in your case be careful because Dorothy Barker might think you’re playing and do the same thing to a other pillow 😀 😊 😉.
You make more sense even when fighting depression than many do on their best days. I hope you take your own advise and recognize that your thought and feelings are positively inspirational. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing so succinctly this distressing awareness of being trapped in swirling fog. This is what has settled in on me and although it saddens me that others are feeling so many emotions and the exhaustion and heartbreak of it all ; I feel less alone and more understood. We can extend ourselves grace and know our empathy and good hearts are like the butterfly in Africa that causes a ripple of change across the world however big or small. So thank you for being here and reminding me we all keep the momentum moving forward in our own way. Reminds me don’t give away my energy on what’s hurtful, give my energy to the ones who care about me.
I think you are brilliant and your writing has made me laugh till I peed …as a Canadian I watch Americans become ever more hateful and self centred..it’s scary. You remain a light in the darkness ..as a great Canadian once said ..keep kicking the darkness till it bleeds daylight.
I have a policy that works 98.9 percent of the time. If somebody post something I just don’t agree with, I can either scroll past it, mute them, or, depending on who they are to me, remove them from my (insert whatever platform here). I chose how much energy they are going to occupy in my sphere. In practice, sounds great. I did go after a guy who made some completely pigish remarks on my friend’s daughter’s TikTok. She was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. I had him begging me to leave him alone and stop schooling him on polite society. I told him, stop coming back.
Being kind instead of yelling at people can be SO hard. *hugs*
I’m sorry people can be shitty (and one was directly to you). I’m glad you wrote this post because we ALL should be kinder to each other and I’m glad you reminded us. Stay strong and lovely!
…
Thanks for sharing even when you are not feeling great. Your posts matter.
And reminding us that some folks who are lashing out with words at random people have their own troubles
You are wonderful. Thank you.
If I were in Texas, I would be first in line Saturday. You’re just awesome. Don’t let the trolls get to you.
Thank you. I needed to read this today. I run a nonprofit, our whole purpose is to help people, to lift others up, to help them not feel alone, to give them hope, and comfort, and connection. Sometimes, like *right now*, it just feels like it’s not enough. How could it be enough when all of this keeps happening? I’ve been overwhelmed and sad but trying to keep a brave face for the people I lead. What you’ve written today hit me in the heart in all the right ways, and I will be kinder to myself tomorrow because I read this. Thank you.
For anyone who’s curious but not quite curious enough to look, I think the comment she’s referring to is #133, and Jenny DID reply (from this entry, I wasn’t sure), she merely didn’t rip him a new one. #136 and #137, on the other hand, did. But the fascinating thing is that apparently there were two more nasty comments. Look at #129. It criticizes by name the author of #117 and #118 (the same person), but the existing #117 and #118 are not by the same person and are not offensive. What happened there? We can’t delete comments, can we? Where did the original #117 and #118 go? Were they SO bad that Jenny had to delete them even though she let #133 remain? I’m so glad I don’t have my own blog. Being a public person is a lot of work.
(I haven’t deleted anything so no clue what that person is talking about. Sometimes I get confusing comments that are just baffling. Sometimes I wonder if they’re AI because they don’t make any sense.~ Jenny)
These kind words shine a light in n such a dark time. Thank you for sharing, thank you for caring. Continue to shine a light. Love from MN.
@Anonymous
January 28, 2026 at 6:32 am
Hi! Trying to clear this up a little … 😉
Obviously comments DEFINITELY can be deleted!
At least by Ms. Lawson or perhaps the corresponding “technical administrator” of this forum if she might not always do it herself. She too, as most other human beings I know, at least most certainly needs some sleep from time to time and for other pretty obvious reasons surely cannot watch this forum 24/7! 😉
The former comments 117/118 were both from a user that called “herself” “Sarah”. And both comments 117/118 at that time from this “Sarah” were REALLY completely SUPERFLUOUS [to put it really mildly …!]. (No. 116 is still under the same name but might of course originate from someone completely else.
Fortunately I had posted “@Sarah” and not only at the former No.s 117/118, because now these now present two comments 117/118 are pretty unsuspicious. And as if this were not enough I’m also posting this from “outside”, Germany in this case. Hth! 😉
It’s so disheartening to see vile comments from people. Certainly it is depressing which is really hard to take in our world today. I think there are a lot of people who aren’t normally depressed who now are and understand more about what it means for people who fight it all the time. That would be me. I’m one of those usually very calm people with an undertone of humming happiness. I know how lucky that makes me. But for a lot of the past decade now I have had a screaming undertone instead of humming. There was a reprieve during Biden’s years but it was still sad to know so many of my family and former friends were not the people I had thought they were. I like your attitude in the midst of all this and appreciate every thought you share with us. Let’s just keep doing our best, whatever that may be.
I needed to hear this, I blasted a guy the other day for a thoughtless comment, then realized I should have
Ignored him. I’m newly a widow and hurting along with politics, end times and being, not alone I do that okay, but specifically being away from him. It’s much more of a hit that I never imagined
You are amazing. Hang in there.
It’s difficult, because nothing we do is ever enough – frustrating. The thing I have to struggle to remember is that it’s not supposed to be! We are SUPPOSED to work together and support each other. To have our work build on each others’, to champion each other and cheer each other on. I don’t trust well. I’m not epic at cooperating. And it’s what I’m called at my highest to do! Hang in there, beautiful Jenny. You are absolutely holding up your piece of the sky: the trick is to put one hand down and reach out for help. We are all here seeing your work and will work with you. Everything you do matters.
Jenny,
You are my hero. Thank YOU for all you do. Thank you for the inspiration and for putting positive good things out in the world. It is hard with all the crappy stuff going on. But we will get through this.
Thank You
Thank you for writing and constantly validating fellow struggler’s feelings. Your words help.
You always have the best words. They’re all in the right order and everything. Yes, I was trying to be funny in that second sentence AND I do mean it – I appreciate your words and your compassion even when people are being utterly ugly. Thank you.
Thank you for your kind words. Common decency is no longer the default setting for normally rational and decent people. Suggest reading a recent post on FB from author Louise Penny asking for an abundance of kindness and thoughts not just for ourselves but for our neighbors and fellow man.
<3
Thank you for giving voice to my feelings of sadness and depression in such a perfect way. My motto is always “Choose to be happy” but it’s getting harder and harder these days. Sending love!
I’m so sorry that happened. I saw the comment and there’s a lot to unpack there, but there was a lot of prejudice and lack of empathy starting with the Hailey remark…. I absolutely cannot and will not with whatever that was about.
They also focused on your lack of medical wellness and also your mental health challenges. I find in my own experience that some people can be very prejudice against medically compromised people and or mental health challenged people. It’s like we somehow rub the primal/lizard part of their brains the wrong way by simply existing.
I think that maybe we remind them that their own mortality is incredibly fragile, and rather than look introspectively as to why they feel a certain way they instead take the time to write something nasty to someone on the internet….or like in my case take the time to storm up to a stranger who is simply wearing a mask (me) and say something mean to them (this has happened more than once to me).
Their response is instead to either diminish us, or they simply want to pretend such things (us) don’t exist. There are also some people I’ve known that are not directly unkind, but they just don’t ask how I’m doing medically or emotionally-they aren’t really there because it’s uncomfortable for them. Rather than just say that they don’t know what to say they just don’t engage.
They don’t want to contend with their own thoughts about such realities. The reality is though is that we DO exist and we need to exist-and they need to and should see us-we are here! We exist!
Please do not question nor make yourself small nor limit your beautiful words and art because of someone who chooses not to grow beyond their own small plot in life.
Finding your books and your safe spaces online have been lifelines for me in so many ways. Please keep being your full, authentic self-unapologetically so. 💕🩷💕
I just wanted to say that, while I don’t always agree with your views, you have given me (and a lot of other people) INVALUABLE insight into why that is okay… actually, a necessary part of life! We have to learn to live together and be the best versions of ourselves, even if we don’t all agree all the time.
You give a perspective on life that is amazingly upbeat, even when you are beat down! You battle an INSANE multitude of mental and physical ailments and times when just getting out of bed seems impossible and yet you offer so much hope and love and understanding to everyone you touch. There are times I can’t believe you’ve just leapt ahead with a trip or blog entry or opening a bookstore or doing an appearance or any number of things when I KNOW you are not feeling it. And you do it all with humor and an amazing spirit. Thank you for your sunshine in all our lives. <3
It is SO hard right now. I’ve been pouring myself into ways to make a positive difference. I’m in MN and one thing that’s happening with *gestures around* is that pets are getting left behind. So we’re currently fostering one of the affected cats, and probably will be taking in another one or two when we’re able to make space to keep them all safe.
Another thing is supporting a trans immigrant girl scout troop in Minneapolis (this one: https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/troop350064c477 ) that can’t safely sell door to door or at booths this year because they could be abducted, so they’re selling online for shipping only and they’re putting all of their cookie donations and funds into helping their neighbors and community who is also locked inside for safety, with kids not able to go to school and parents not able to go to work or go shopping. And I’m doing a LOT of knitting and crafting and blog reading (thank you) and singing and calling representative and petting cats and crying.
We can’t do all the good, but we all can do some good.
Some people hate themselves and their lives so much the only way they can feel better is to be cruel to others. Don’t listen to them you’re amazing and bring a bright light into this world the world is a better place because of you.
Ra:
I’ve been back several times wondering if I should comment. I prefer to read the original comment not sure if that was the one.
It’s not okay. This hatred toward others. We’re better than that. This community is BETTER than that.
I don’t even know if it was AI (the comment). I’ve been reading this blog for 16 years or so. The comment is weird because Jenny always talked about her Depression and helped those of us who don’t have it understand it a little.
This community is pretty special and I have found love and solace here. Let’s keep it that way. Our Jenny safe place.
Not supporting someone who’s going through the big C. isn’t human.
Ra (giving you some sunshine)
Had to charge. You know what I dislike?
Dollhouses. You know what happened when you showed us the ongoing magic one? I ended up with miniature book covers glued to my sweater. Going to go look at it now because it’s calming.
Thank you Jenny.
Thank you and I am trying too to cope. I have a flag I take to protests against hate that says Choose Love. We do what we can and hope that someday persons who are not haters will again lead this country. I love you and cherish your blogs and books. Be safe! Love Kristi
Your words made today better for me. Thank you 💜
I’m still constantly recommending your books to people and telling people how much your writings have helped me over the years. You are amazing Jenny. All the love!
I was crying all day off and on, just feeling generally disconnected with so many spheres of my life. Like, everything felt broken. Anyway, my husband sent this to me tonight. Thank you for writing this (and thanks to my husband, who is awesome).
PS to No.s 24, 35, (56) and 58:
Quite obviously hatred only produces more hatred. But on the other hand and in my opinion it is not hatred if I (or one) speak(s) up against hatred and do(es) not stay quiet.
Many too many people stay quiet.
And as a German looking at the USA in general and at this forum especially I think staying quiet against hatred does not help the “good cause”.
Perhaps not that many Americans might know about Martin Niemöller.
But if you want to know more about him and the following famous quotation (of course translated into English) of him you might think about starting to read and inform yourself with this link:
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/martin-niemoeller-first-they-came-for-the-socialists
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
—Martin Niemöller
And though unfortunately I do not know Jenny, Ms. Lawson, personally and probably would not agree with really all that I have read of her in all the years that I have spent reading her books and this forum I at least do owe that much to her that I probably will always have her back and will not stay quiet if I realise someone “misusing” her or her forum respectively.
THANk YOU, Jenny Lawson! 🙂
And good health and all the best to You! 🙂
And of course like-minded people as well! We all deserve more empathy, love and kindness! 🙂
I’m so sorry someone made any mean/stupid comment. You are a delightful human being who has brought me and so many others joy. Your books and blog have meant so much to me for years now and made me smile in the depths of horrible depression. Thank you for that.
I lurve you 🩷 thanks for making
The rest of us feel better about feeling bad
Thank-you, Jenny Lawson, for you, and thank you for your words which make a lot of sense, and actually I have believed and said the same thing too: the world needs more kindness and compassion in it and we are certainly not weak for showing it. Show kindness and compassion to others such as strangers, and just as importantly to yourself, and always remember to be gentle with yourself. Every act of kindness in the world matters, and its through those acts of kindnesses that the world will become a nicer place.
If that doesn’t make sense then everything ive ever said has been complete nonsense. Thank you jenny for putting it into words for the rest of us
The cure for all this is obvious. MORE PEACH COBBLER:) Thanks for sharing the recipe – haven’t made it yet, but am drooling in anticipation…..
Jenny, I don’t come here very often (life!), but when I do, I am consistently put into a better mood than I was before reading your blogs. Also, I first bought your book(s) for my Kindle, but love them so much (and borrow them out to friends) that I bought all of them again. Autographed. Because you are so f’ing amazing and wonderful and funny as hell. Anyway, love you, and today especially I read your response to the person who is mad at you for having cancer, and your reply (of course it was anonymous) was beautiful and full of grace. Finally, I received your email about the bookshop being closed today and I applaud you yet again for being so awesome and amazing. And for paying your employees even though you are closed. That is …. so you. So continue doing you, and I’ll continue reading you. Just more often ;-). Tracy, in South Dakota
J
Jenny you’re awesome! Your realization that that person was being awful and not giving in to the desire to scream at them for being hateful is laudable. We can’t change hateful people we can just change our reactions to them and how we let them impact our lives.
You continue being you a light and a beacon even when you’re struggling.
Empathy may be the one thing that saves us from this mind-bending time. Being a support structure instead of standing on the Front Lines is just as valid. Disconnecting when it becomes more than your morality can handle is essential. We were warned by Project 2025 and yet somehow our leaders paid not enough attention. Stay well and healthy, everyone.
When my hair started to fell because of chemo last year and I post about it, my sister in law cry. My mother in law had the audacity to send a message to tell me that I shouldn’t cry because it was just hair and I made her daughter cry…there’ll you always have idiotics…you are amazing, your books helped me soooo much, be well, sorry if I made any mistakes, I not good writing in english (just good understanding)
Sending LOVE energy to keep up the fight!
(On my way yo my skin cancer operation). This will make you feel better:
Dig out the Kleenex: