Today, I achieved something.

On the surface, while our social net evaporates, far-right assholes run around with impunity…my little thing makes no big impact. But to understand just what this means, I have to tell a little story.

Growing up, I was the nerd, to surprise no one. I sought validation amongst my peers, I played the friend, I wanted to be liked. Academically, I was the one who had to get As. Those things combined to make my young adult life overly complicated and very contradictory.

Anyway, the things that typically visit people like me, overachieving minority kids who have the pressure of making it big and elevating others and who can’t understand how that never comes to fruition, was in full effect for me. Procrastination and perfectionism crept in, and the result was, well, a doubt in anything and everything I did. Is this good enough? Is it perfect?

Anyway, I’m older, and a number of factors have occurred to dean that inner monologue. First, the creatives I’ve allied myself are doing great things, and it’s hard to be around good people doing good things and not want for more. You really take a lot from your peers.

Secondly, a number of great people I know have died, and it became obvious that, frankly, I’m running out of time. I have some medical issues, and tomorrow ain’t promised. Doing work, whether it be a drawing or digital upload or a zine will exist after I’m gone, and it becomes a question of legacy. What do I want to be known for? What can I do to make things better around me? One of my favorite quotes of all time is from Arthur Ashe; it’s very simple.

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

I may not be able to affect international policy. I may not be able to solve huge societal issues. I don’t have the ears of the 1%. But what I can do is make my people happy. Comfortable. Safe. Show them that the world ain’t all ugly and morose and hopeless. I can write something. I can draw something.

And my zine is me drawing and writing a thing. And I hope it’s a bit of happy for someone.

It’s a beginning for me.