Thoughtful and evoking article. In my opinion, the only answer to sadness and despair is to help others. People or animals, it doesn’t matter. Helping others in need is what differentiates us from the monkeys. When you’re helping someone and you see their smile or you get a hug, life is good in that moment. Just keep doing it and you’ll die happy.
This helps confirm my hypothesis that November — objectively the worst month of the year — produces some of the best writing. This was great, Jen.
I also sense the emerging theme of “Hobbes was right; the question is not why there is evil, the question is why we have good” across substack lately. Henry Farrell, Noah Smith, and especially Dan Williams, all expounding on this. It’s a lesson that needs to be relearned by everyone apparently.
Some friends and I describe it as the Long Summer, from game of thrones. Everyone forgot what Winter is like.
Oscar Wilde wrote: "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." Thanks Jen for a moving reminder to remember the bright lights in our history and their promise for our future.
My husband and I were talking about this very topic last night. Over and over again we humans take it too far and then boom Rome is burning. When we lose our way and our moral compass along with the erosion of our community bonds all hell breaks out.
I hope you don’t mind that I’m tagging on to your comment. I’m not actually replying to it. It’s just that with this old iPad I can’t post new comments only replies and I wanted to say “Beautiful!” to this beautiful article without any delay (like finding a desktop somewhere.)
So: “Beautiful” and Godspeed in processing and recovering from trauma, Jen. You’ve helped all of us.
I empathize. Am using an old Dell laptop for the past 8 years which had 2 owners before me.
But keeping up with its idiosyncrasies seems easier right now than transferring to something else and saving what I need to save. Need to consult with our 30 year old tech genius neighbors.
This is a beautiful piece….one I read twice with a warm cup of coffee, my dog at my feet and taking in the frost on the trees. Your timing is always impeccable Jen. Not sure about anyone else, but I really needed this today.
The problem is that many of us don't know how to move on, handle it or deal with it as the case may require. Or we lack the relationships that we need to deal with it. Or we're told (and believe) all the wrong ways handle it and we make it worse.
Jen, I know you and Matt are selling this as an uncomfortable column for you to write.
That may even be true.
Nevertheless, you should continue to explore themes like this, as you're quite elequent in exploring them.
We also need to read them, so we can consider these new/ancient ideas ourselves, and discuss them with our friends and families.
Thus, you are serving as light in the darkness.
Thank you.
Thoughtful and evoking article. In my opinion, the only answer to sadness and despair is to help others. People or animals, it doesn’t matter. Helping others in need is what differentiates us from the monkeys. When you’re helping someone and you see their smile or you get a hug, life is good in that moment. Just keep doing it and you’ll die happy.
Obviously you don't know much about the Benobo monkeys :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiF0RszZliM
My first draft literally had a line about how we're not Benobos. Matt cut it. JG
Can I say, “from most monkeys”? My monkey knowledge is somewhat limited. Plus, I’m allergic to bananas.
This helps confirm my hypothesis that November — objectively the worst month of the year — produces some of the best writing. This was great, Jen.
I also sense the emerging theme of “Hobbes was right; the question is not why there is evil, the question is why we have good” across substack lately. Henry Farrell, Noah Smith, and especially Dan Williams, all expounding on this. It’s a lesson that needs to be relearned by everyone apparently.
Some friends and I describe it as the Long Summer, from game of thrones. Everyone forgot what Winter is like.
Jen is the sage our dark time needs. Thank you for this.
“If we can’t acknowledge our own evolution as evidence of God, perhaps we can see it in some sign of grace.”
Beautifully written Jen.
Outstanding piece. As they say in Newfoundland, "you'll be kept on!"
Oscar Wilde wrote: "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." Thanks Jen for a moving reminder to remember the bright lights in our history and their promise for our future.
My husband and I were talking about this very topic last night. Over and over again we humans take it too far and then boom Rome is burning. When we lose our way and our moral compass along with the erosion of our community bonds all hell breaks out.
Goodness will prevail………
I really enjoy your articles, Jen. Looking forward to the next one.
Take care, you folks have a hard job.
I cried… Jen if we were school mates you would be my best friend!
Let there be light; and there was light
I hope you don’t mind that I’m tagging on to your comment. I’m not actually replying to it. It’s just that with this old iPad I can’t post new comments only replies and I wanted to say “Beautiful!” to this beautiful article without any delay (like finding a desktop somewhere.)
So: “Beautiful” and Godspeed in processing and recovering from trauma, Jen. You’ve helped all of us.
I empathize. Am using an old Dell laptop for the past 8 years which had 2 owners before me.
But keeping up with its idiosyncrasies seems easier right now than transferring to something else and saving what I need to save. Need to consult with our 30 year old tech genius neighbors.
It's time to read Jordan Peterson's books on rules for life. They help deal with the darkness, of which I can attest.
Maybe it's the start of a Line bookclub!
Jen needs a Chinook
We ALL need a chinook!
This is a beautiful piece….one I read twice with a warm cup of coffee, my dog at my feet and taking in the frost on the trees. Your timing is always impeccable Jen. Not sure about anyone else, but I really needed this today.
I think trauma accumulates if you let it.
The problem is that many of us don't know how to move on, handle it or deal with it as the case may require. Or we lack the relationships that we need to deal with it. Or we're told (and believe) all the wrong ways handle it and we make it worse.