Cycles, spirals, and a little bit of hope
Be the kind of person who never has to show up because you never left.
Welcome to So Relatable, a newsletter that helps creative folks improve their craft, achieve their goals, and eat better snacks. I’m glad you’re here! ✨
When I woke on Wednesday, I didn’t look at my phone right away. Instead, I poured a cup of coffee, played Connections, stared at my reflection in the dark window. The longer I waited, the longer I could pretend to live in a world that makes good choices. Then I looked, and the illusion was shattered.
Like many of you (roughly 48%, let’s say) I’ve spent the past week filled with anger and disappointment and shame. To live in a country full of so many selfish and short-sighted people, who are so willing to sacrifice the health and safety of others—to cheer for mass deportation, to let women die in childbirth, to deny trans people their humanity, to ban books and gut education, to watch as climate change ravages communities and do nothing, to vote for a man who represents our worst instincts—all because of the price of eggs, the cost of gas? It’s unthinkable, and yet it happened.
How can we live in a world like this? How do we move forward, when it feels like we keep tumbling back?
In my early twenties I studied Buddhism pretty intently; as I get older, I find myself returning to those lessons. In the wake of this election, the concept of samsara is the one that strikes the deepest chord.
To put it (very) simply, samsara is the cycle of life—birth, death, and rebirth—in which all creatures are trapped. To escape the cycle we must attain nirvana, a state of perfect peace achieved by eliminating every shred of ignorance, hatred, and greed within us. Perhaps you can see where this is going.
Over the last few days, I’ve written many versions of this letter. The first few were angry and desolate. They felt good to write, but wrong to send. During each revision, I thought about whether my words were bringing us closer to that peaceful, perfect state. I thought about the purpose of this newsletter and the gift of your attention. What can I give you in return? What can I offer in this dark moment, during this dark week?
Truth, I decided. Hope. Love. I can tell you what I’m thinking. I can assure you that you’re not alone. I can attempt to answer the question I keep asking myself: How can we live in a world like this? How do we move forward, when it feels like we keep tumbling back?
The next four years will be divisive and ugly, but I’ll resist ignorance and hatred and greed. I’ll hold on to my empathy and my hope that a better world is possible.
On election day I sent a last minute donation to the Harris campaign, an impulsive act of desperation I now regret. Millionaires don’t need my money! Instead, I’ll spend my resources in my community, with my neighbors, on causes and movements where it can actually make a difference.
I’ll remember his last presidency, the outrage and chaos he stoked, and this time I’ll ignore it. Instead of being reactive, I’ll be proactive. I will ask myself: when I show up, raise my voice, demand change, is it because something terrible has happened? Or am I already here, living my values, helping my loved ones, serving my community? I will be the kind of person who never has to show up because I never left.
Last night, we had some friends over for what we called, “Snack, Sip, Spiral.” We talked about the election, of course, our fears and disappointments. But we also sat around the warm glow of a fire and played a ridiculous game. We shared food and drinks and had a dance party with the children. We took a tiny step forward, toward the world we want to see.
Elections, like samsara, are a cycle. We’ll be here again. Maybe next time, if we can learn and love and give, we’ll get it right. Maybe next time, we’ll be born into something better.
✍️ Picture This
Ever since making my zine, I’ve been experimenting with illustration as a form of storytelling. To kick off this new section, here’s a scene from my zine that felt apt in this post-election era. Let me know what you think—trying new things, especially in public, is always a little scary.
🌻 Relatable Recs
A furious screed that clarified my anger. Let’s take 10 steps forward. A good Instagram post. It’s officially comfort food season. My favorite book of 2024 so far. I’m doing The Artist’s Way and got great advice on Substack Notes. Quitting Amazon is good for your soul and for the world—here’s a blueprint to help you say goodbye. Trader Joe’s Bean and Cheese Taquitos, the perfect comfort food. Long walks in the day’s last light.
💛 Coffee Club
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Venmo: @Christine-Hennessey or PayPal Me.
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👋 About Me: I’m Chrissy Hennessey, an enthusiastic snacker and native New Yorker living in coastal North Carolina, where I stayed after earning my MFA. My writing has appeared in a decent number of journals, I’ve received fellowships to some fancy residencies, and I’ve written three novels, all currently unpublished. This newsletter is a passion project I started in 2019 as a way to connect with readers and writers, share my creative journey, and build a community. Thank you for being here!
Your newsletter is always good, but I especially loved two things: The explanation of samsara, and your distillation of how you will approach the next four years, ending with the pithy phrase, "I will be the kind of person who never has to show up because I never left." Thank you!
This is searingly beautiful, Chrissy. I actually find myself feeling something akin to hope in reading it. Thank you 🙏🏾