A Sad (Comic #241)
Posted on February 18, 2014 by liz

It's been many years since I created A Sad and I'm honored and humbled by the stories folks have shared with me about this comic. I love that it's been used as a tool for folks to express their emotional needs. I love that folks can pull this out and say this! This is how I want to be treated when I have a sad. I treasure all the stories I've heard and it's so amazing to think of the secret life the Things have out in the world.

It's nice to have these reminders that sometimes just being present is enough. Asking what a person needs is often better than diving in with a solution. It's such an easy habit to fall into, and I need a reminder from my own comics sometimes. Thank you for visiting Thingswithout, I'm so grateful the Things and all their friends came into my life, they certainly help me when I have a sad.

I hope you enjoy your stay, here are a few I'm particularly fond of:

  • A three page episode about resilience and recovery after breaking. Starting with Pop!
  • Stories featuring Boot. Boot has been through a lot, but still keeps caring. Some Dietary Thoughts from Boot is one of my many favorites.
  • Bunson Hoppydew is a wonderful little boy bunny who loves dancing, friendship and cake. His lifestyle advice is sometimes a little peculiar, but always brings a smile to my face.

If you have any favorites, I'd love to hear them in the comments.

FYI, comments for most comics get closed after a few weeks (sometimes a month or two, I'm not always good at remembering, but forgetting to close comments is a way to tell google you're lame if there's no activity!), but I'll keep comments open on this one. Though if you want to license thingswithout art etc, please e-mail me, rather than use the comments section!

A Sad Support

Checkpoint (a non-profit providing mental health resources for gamers) has a great looking list of resources and helplines around the globe. It's better to reach out for help than suffer alone. I also love how Checkpoint's mental health guides (handy for anyone, not just gamers) come with fun monster illustrations and the writing is so down to earth and approachable. The Depression monster looks so cute and is a grumpy jerk!

Lifeline 13 11 14, is a fantastic general support line in Australia. The Creator of the Things called them once because she had a really rough day at work (police stations were involved, and she held someone's hand while they were brave). It felt a bit silly to call, she wasn't in massive crisis, but she reminded herself they said nothing to small and not to self censor yourself out of accessing support. It was nice to be able to talk through some stuff in a confidential anonymous way that respected the privacy of the person she had helped. Calling definitely pushed her comfort zone, but it was also really empowering. She went and got the help that felt best for her needs, not the oughts society tells you (especially the you ought to just deal with it).

The Australian Institute of Family Studies maintains a much larger list of help lines for specific issues and specific regions.

We Need to Talk About Mental Health talks about stuff that's much bigger than sadness. But is a handy resource in these complex and crazy making (literally crazy making) time. I hope it helps folks navigate some of the bigger issues and have a resource to share to make certain conversations easier.

What are your favorite resources for folks when they are sad? I'd love to hear in the comments.

Do you know about Patreon? It's a place where everyday folks can become patrons of the arts. One of your favorite artists might be there right now, creating exclusive content and supported by a community of patrons. The Patreon that supports the Things is https://www.patreon.com/lizargall

Transcript

Thing 2: I have a sad

Thing 1: Are you looking for solutions or comfort?

Thing 2: I would like to be angry, then sad, then comforted, then adventure for solutions, then giggles

Thing 1: Let’s start!

Thing 2: Raar

46 thoughts on “A Sad (Comic #241)”

  1. Fran Wilde

    <3 This is wonderful.

    1. liz

      <3 ^_^

  2. James

    My favourite of your cartoons 😉
    It really distils something that is poorly understood.

    1. Liz Argall

      Thank you so much!

  3. Pj

    So tender. Love it

    1. liz

      <3

  4. beth

    This is honestly one of my favorite things ever. I had to seriously search to find you and the source (I first saw it on FB) but it was well worth it. THANK YOU!!

    1. liz

      Thanks for tracking us down, Beth. And thanks for your lovely comments!

      I’ll see what I can do to make us easier to find (let us know if you have any ideas or any frustrations during your search so we can focus on what to make better!)

  5. Nora Miller (@nmillaz)

    Just came across this cartoon via a Facebook friend. I love it. If only we could take this approach on all communication! Imagine how much simpler life would be, and how much better we would manage our “sads” and our “happies” too! Thanks for doing it.

    1. liz

      Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving a comment Nora. And sorry I didn’t see it until now. Wishing you the very best for 2015!

  6. Ian

    A typed transcript below each comuc might help searching.

    1. liz

      It is in progress, very slow progress, but I have a little help now, which makes it easier.

  7. Alex Long

    Hi Liz, I was wondering whether you ever sell prints of any of your comics? This one is my absolute favourite and my partner and I always love reading it 🙂 I’d love to get it for her and frame it as a gift.

    1. liz

      Dear Alex, thank you so much for supporting my comic. That’s so nice to hear.

      I would love to sell you a print, unfortunately my visa doesn’t allow me to sell stuff at this time, but hopefully in three months or so I will be able to!

      It’s going to be an exciting time (and a little scary! when I can start to do prints and things). In the meantime you are welcome to print it out and if you like I can email you when proper prints become available.

      1. Alex Long

        Thanks Liz! Good luck with the visa process 🙂 In the meantime, I’ll have to make do with my photocopied copy!

  8. Azzy

    Hello! I love this specific comic. It makes me super happy every time I see it. I am excited by the idea that you will get to sell stuff, because I was hoping for t-shirt! I am a counselor and I think this speaks volumes.

    Have a day!

    1. liz

      Thank you so much! To hear that is such a nice feeling!

  9. Lori Ann

    I finally tracked this down after a friend shared it with me on facebook. I love it! May I use it in my parenting education classes (with the site attribution intact of course)? Parents could benefit both from using this approach with their children and with having relationships like this themselves; it really summarizes some of the information I try to convey about listening!

    1. liz

      Thanks for asking Lori. I give you permission. Could you also link directly to this page http://www.thingswithout.com/comic/311-a-sad/ ? I’d love to know how it goes, especially if you have pics to share!

  10. Bonnie

    LOVE this, Liz! Saw it on Facebook, too, and searched to find the source. I’d love to use this in some of my workshops (dealing with emotions). I would, of course, include the link to this page. Thanks for putting your work out in the world–it’s sure to be a blessing!

    1. liz

      Thanks you for your kind words and thank you for asking, Bonnie! I give you permission to use the things in your workshops. Do you have a link to your workshop’s information page? It’d be cool to see them doing even more out in the world 🙂

      1. Bonnie

        Thank you, Liz. I don’t have a link for that yet–still in the planning phase!

        1. liz

          Hope it goes swimmingly!

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  12. Felicity

    Hey Liz. I really love this and I’d like to buy a print. I can see a link to purchase a hoodie but I’d really love a print I can frame.

    1. liz

      Thank you so much! If you click the portfolio button you can see more options including stickers and cards. I’ve set it to print stuff as big as possible on redbubble, to get it to print larger I’m going to need to redraw it, but there are a few more options here http://www.redbubble.com/people/argallcreative/works/19335557-a-sad-raaar-things-without

  13. Taza G.

    Love love love this! “Raar” indeed! 🙂

  14. zidders

    Thank you for creating this beautiful comic. I wish you & yours all the best.

    1. liz

      Thank you 🙂

  15. Paula Brennan

    I love your mind. You and my cousin are friends on FB and I too tracked this site down because I absolutely love The Things Without Arms! As a person that has a tendency to overcomplicate and try and fix things for others, this is such a good reminder that just listening and loving and just being there is all that’s necessary a lot of times! Thank you and I’m going to check out what you have for sale. Good luck in everything you pursue!

    1. liz

      Thank you so much for tracking us down. I’m delighted that you enjoyed us and best wishes to you as well!

  16. Anita Krupowicz

    I absolutely love this one! You go girl!

    1. liz

      Thank you! 🙂

    2. liz

      Thank you!

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  18. Boonie

    May I use this image for a blog post on communication styles? Please let me know. I will give credit. Love this image!

    1. liz

      Hi Boonie,

      Thanks for asking, could you send me an e-mail with details? We can chat about it :-).

      Liz

  19. Judy

    Do you sell this? Perhaps as a t shirt or picture. Maybe on etsy? I’d love to download this to frame and gift this picture. It’s perfect!

    1. liz

      Hi Judy, I’m so glad you liked the comic. There are two ways you can order my stuff. You can purchase some things from my store http://www.thingswithout.com/shop/

      And you want it on a mug or a t-shirt you can grab those at Redbubble (they are good fun, all my t-shirts and even a few dresses are by Redbubble artists these days. I like knowing money goes back to the creator) https://www.redbubble.com/people/argallcreative?ref=artist_title_name

  20. Lyn

    Hi,
    I am a newly qualified therapist and I love this so much. I noticed in the shop that it can only be purchased as a card, are planning to make a poster because I really want it on the wall of my therapy room because it so clearly states what so many people come to therapy for but can’t articulate!
    Thanks Lyn

    1. liz

      Thanks Lyn,

      That’s delightful. You can buy a print of A Sad on Redbubble https://www.redbubble.com/people/argallcreative/works/19335557-a-sad-raaar-things-without?p=art-print&size=medium

      Congratulations and best wishes with your therapy practice.

  21. Bobbie

    Just saw “I Have a Sad” for the first time on Facebook. It is so dear and so wonderful. It made me Happy! And, honestly, I find this often in the world — and am so glad to see it circulating. That makes me happy too. Thanks!

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