Courage (Comic # 242) – Things Without Arms and Without Legs

Courage (Comic # 242)

Courage Doesn't Always Roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." I was looking for inspiration for today's comic and I came across this quote by Mary Anne Radmacher that was so perfect for the Things! I will try again tomorrow.

Published On: February 18, 2014

I'm at the Graphic Medicine Conference in Chicago right now, and feeling so emotionally validated. It's nice to meet up with new folks and old, put bodies on faces I've only experienced in Zoom. There is a baseline and critical mass of intersectionality here that is so refreshing. The validation here certainly feels nice (at least these days, I used to get what I called validation diabetes, I'd get an enormous sugar rush, but then I'd also get a massive sugar crash and feel so worthless and desperate for more validation. I'm glad I've got my validation insulin levels in a better place these days ;-)) Thanks to all my patrons and a special big extra thanks to Kate Webb, Erik Owomoyela, Xander Odell and Stuart Barrow. Would you like to support this comic? Readers like you can make a huge difference and Patreon is a way folks can directly support artists to make more art. Patrons make a huge difference, get early access to comics as well as behind the scenes insider stuffs, will you join us? Validation Comic Transcript Little Liz: I've found the best way to get emotional validation. Little Liz: Is to get to a place where you don't need emotional validation. Little Liz: Lik fixing a hole in a bucket, rather than just trying to fill it up. Dog comes bounding in full of love and excitement. Dog: You're the Best! Little Liz: And wow, this feels even better with a less leaky bucket.

Horrible Wonderful Comic Transcript Thing 1: I’m finally going to create the stuff I’ve been talking about for AGES! Thing 2: Wow, how wonderful! Thing 1: It’s HORRIBLE! Thing 1: Doing is so much harder than talking. And now it’s an ugly lump, not a beautiful dream. Thing 2: Do you wish you’d just left it as a dream? Thing 1: Nah, getting comfortable with the ugly is part of the beauty of creativity.

Got You Comic Transcript Thing 1 and 2 are having a conversation Thing 1: I’m proud of who I am Thing 1: But I miss who I was Thing 2: I’m proud of you too. Bunson bounds in and hugs Thing 1. Bunson: I don’t miss you, I got you!

Webcomic transcript. Thing 1: Vulnerable things are vulnerable. Thing 2: And that’s ok. Thing 1: I was hoping for a better punchline. Thing 2: We can laugh a bit if you like. Things 1 & 2: heh, heh, heheh, hehehe Thing 1: heh, yeah, that helps.

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Blankie Boom Comic Transcript. The Things are talking to each other. Thing 1: I want to create something, but I got no energy. Thing 2: You know what that means?! SFX: Boom! Thing 1 and Thing 2 are both under blankets lying down on the ground. Thing 1 and Thing 2: Yaay! Caption: Yes, this comic was drawn under a blanket.

Here We Are Comic Transcript. A brown work boot talks to us. Boot: It doesn’t matter how much you’ve achieved. Boot: Now is when we’re living. Boot: And time happens to all of us. Boot: Most of us will have periods where just being able to walk is an achievement. Boot: Where doing anything feels immense. Boot: Time… Time happens to all of us. Boot: All of us will have times when our biggest achievement is doing something simple.

Fun Restoration Comic Transcript Thing 1 and Thing 2 are having a conversation. Thing 1: There’s always people with more energy who do so much more than me. Thing 1: I get so tired sometimes. Thing 1: They’re living while I’m resting. Thing 2: Resting is living. Thing 1: Yeah? Thing 2: But if you’re not enjoying rest. Thing 2: Maybe the question is, how can we make resting more ? Thing 1: I like that question.

Do Comic Transcript Thing 1 and Thing 2 are having a conversation. Thing 1: No matter how much I do. Thing 1: There’s always more I’m not doing. Thing 2: Yeah Thing 1: Yeah? That’s all the advice you’ve got? Thing 2: Yeah. That’s life! Thing 1: Yeah, I guess so.

The two things are quite small on the bottom left of the page. They’re looking up at some incredible stars (globular clusters to be precise, not at all visible to the naked eye, but they are amazing clumps of stars). Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Giles Chapdelaine.

Collaborative Comic Transcript Page 1 The Things are hanging out together. Thing 1 is staring up into the sky and has some tears welling. Thing 2 is looking at Thing 1 with a little concern. Thing 2: You ok? Thing 1 is smiling, if looking a little wobbly. Thing 1: Yeah… I’m just a little overwhelmed. Thing 1: Isn’t it amazing that our ability to even perceive our existence comes from survival of the most collaborative? Close up on Thing 1: Particles, cells, biomes… where things survive and are complect enough to be perceived it is because of the most profound and remarkable collaboration.

Comic How to Write Poetry with Bunson Hoppydew. Bunson Hoppydew, a pink bunny who likes dancing friendship and cake, is excitedly looking at us. Bunson: Look at all my amazing drawing advice Bunson is sitting down and writing “There is was a duck in a thicket.” Bunson: Now do it with lines of poetry, not drawn lines. Caption: Write a line you might want to call bad. Bunson pats the writing. Bunson: Hello new lines, nice to meet you. Bunson: I like how playful you are. Bunson dancing and spoinging through the air. Bunson sits down and smiles. Caption: Poetry is for everyone.

Plans Comic Transcript Bunson is sitting and holding a piece of paper in his paw. Piece of paper: Plan – some really great ideas, things (the rest of the words are obscured by Bunson’s paw Bunson: Life doesn’t always go to plan Big noisy lines charging in from above. Bunson looks a bit shaken. Piece of paper: Plan, Planity Plan Plan Plan things stuff! Bunson, looking up at the scary noisy lines: This changes everything! The big scary lines have gone away. Bunson is standing and painting a smiling sun on a piece of paper. Bunson: So I paint on the backs of old plans. I don’t just throw them away. Bunson frolics and dances around happily. Bunson sits down and gazes off into the distance. Bunson: The paper is really nice.

Make Sounds Comic Transcript Caption: Make a cow sound. Bunson Hoppydew (a little pink bunny, he likes dancing, friendship and cake) is sitting down, smiling and mooing. Bunson: Moo! Caption: Make an alien sound. Bunson's ears look a little electrified with lots of diagonal lines and shapes. Bunson: Mweep mweep. Caption: Draw the Cow and Alien talking to each other. Bunson is drawing a cow and an alien on a piece of paper. Bunson is smiling. Bunson is prancing and saying mweep mweep. Bunson is dancing, Moo moo! Bunson is sitting and smiling at us. Caption: Art is a conversation.

Draw a Feeling, Comic Transcript Bunson Hoppydew, a little pink bunny, he likes dancing friendship and cake, is drawing on a piece of paper and smiling at us Caption: Draw a feeling Bunson concentrates intensely as he draws further lines, bending over the page. Caption: It's ok to struggle, drawing feelings can be tricky and symbolic. Bunson is smiling and drawing on the page with both hands. Caption: One way to draw complex feelings is to draw the feelings around feelings around feelings. Bunson stands up, proudly holding one pencil in his hand (a little like a rampant lion, a little like someone holding their pencil like a spear!). Bunson zooms through the air, holding a pencil. Bunson sits down and smiles at us. Caption: Using lines helps too!

Good Lines Bad lines Comic Transcript Bunson Hoppydew (he likes dancing, friendship and cake) is setting at a slope board with paper bull clipped to it. He's drawing with a pencil, he's smiling and he's sticking his tongue out. Bunson: Draw a line you might want to call bad. Bunson: Tell the line it's a good line. Bunson: Nice to meet you. Bunson pats the squiggles on the page. Bunson: Find a specific nice thing to say. Bunson: I like that little flick you did. Bunson dances and spoings around with joy.

Make Marks Comic Transcript Bunson Hoppydew (he is a pink bunny who likes dancing friendship and cake) is standing in front of an easel with his hands on his hips. Caption: Draw a line. Bunson is drawing a line on the easel with a large pencil. Caption: Any line. Bunson has drawn a lot more lines. Caption: Draw more lines if you feel like it. Bunson: yay! Bunson spoings and jumps and dances around. Bunson is sitting down looking at us, there is a pencil tucked between his ears. Caption: Make marks.

Asking for Help Comic Transcript A warm brown work boot is talking to us. Boot: Asking for help is hard. Boot: And you don't always get the help you want, which can make it even harder. Boot: But there are lots of things in life that are hard the get easier with practice. Boot: So keep practicing.

Elephant in the Room Part 2 Comic Transcript A brown work boot and a grey elephant are talking to each other in a small room. Boot: I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. Elephant: Thanks, I think just talking about it has made the room a bit bigger. Boot: So... I got you a present. Elephant: For me! Boot and Elephant have put on a green tutu and a purple tutu and are dancing to music. Elephant: My very own tutu! Caption: Once you've named the elephant in the room, it's not just easier to deal with, it's easier to have fun with.

Elephant in the Room Comic Transcript Boot is in a small cramped room with a grey elephant that looks uncomfortably wedged in. Boot: Are you Fear Based Decision Making? Elephant: Yeah. Boot: Sorry to be rude, but I wish you weren't here. It's crushing me. Elephant: Yeah, on the savanna I was "Cares About Others," but it's so crowded here, I've changed.

There are Other Ways to Grow, Comic Transcript A brown boot with round laces and curved leather is talking to us. Boot: Facing death can change you. Makes you grow in way you never imagined. Lots of traumatic experiences are like that and there is no shame in surviving horrible stuff. Boot sits in silence. Boot: But I still wouldn't seek trauma. Boot: There are other ways to grow.

Vitamin Connection Comic Transcript Boot (a brown boot with round laces and curved leather) is being playfully pounced by Bunson Hoppydew (a pink bunny, he likes dancing friendship and cake). Boot: Bunson, you're an excellent source of Vitamin C. Bunson: Is it because I eat a lot of carrots? Boot: I mean Vitamin Connection. Bunson: The best vitamin. We see an orange with a single leaf attached to the stem. Orange: I'm not very good at hugs.

At Ease Comic Transcript A brown boot with round laces and curved leather is talking to us. Boot: Not everything gets easier with practice. Boot sits in silence. Boot: But with practice you can be, at ease with yourself.

Sock and Boot Comic Transcript Boot, a well rounded work boot, and Sock, an orange and yellow sock are hanging out together. Boot: Hey sock Boot: I've missed you. Boot: Socks and boots often do stuff together. Boot: So... Boot: Wanna go to a movie? Sock bounces up in the air. Sock sits on top of Boot and they zoom off together.

Shoe Still Fits Comic Transcript Bunson: If the shoe fits. Bunson Hoppydew is wearing a blue shoe with white spots on one of his back feet. Bunson puts his hand over his mouth and looks a little shocked and surprised. Bunson looks down at a pair of blue shoes with white spots. He's not wearing any shoes anymore. Bunson: It might still belong to someone else. Bunson dances and frolics around (for he is Bunson). Bunson sits down next to the shoes. Bunson: Oops!

If the Shoe Fits Comic Transcript Bunson Hoppydew (a pink little boy bunny who likes dancing, friendship and cake) has put one of his front paws in a blue shoe with spots. He is smiling at the shoe. Bunson: If the shoe fits. Bunson is standing up and holding the shoe in the air. Bunson: It still might give you blisters! Bunson is frolicing and dancing around, he has flung the shoe off his paw as he zooms through the air. Bunson is sitting down with a pair of shoes next to him. He is smiling. Bunson: Hello shoes

It's OK to Take Breaks Comic Transcript Boot is a brown work boot. Boot: If you always give 100%. Boot: Eventually, there will be nothing left of you. Boot: Enjoy the flow. Throw yourself into things. Boot: But it's not just ok to take breaks, it's necessary.

Perfect Story Comic Transcript Thing 1 and Thing 2 are in conversation. Thing 1 has presented to Thing 2 a stack of handwritten pages. Thing 2 is looking at the pages. Thing 1: Behold my story! It is perfect. Thing 2: You write about cheese so well. Thing 1 looks a little forlorn. Thing 2: This one isn't about cheese. Thing 1 and Thing 2 stare at each other. Thing 1 has a pencil in their mouth and they're writing extra pages. Thing 2 looks on and smiles.

Modify Your Environment Comic Transcript Thing 1 and Thing 2 are in conversation. They're both smiling. Thing 1: In the morning, I opened the curtains. Thing 1: And then later, at night, I closed the curtains. Thing 1 has a huge grin on their face. Thing 1: I NOTICED my environment. Thing 1: AND I modified it. Thing 2: I'm very proud of you. Thing 1: ME TOO!

Structure Comic Transcript Thing 1 and Thing 2 are talking. Thing 1: I've put more structure into my life. Thing 2: Fantastic! Like regular works, journalling or bed time? Thing 1 enthusiastically thrusts their head forward. Thing 2 looks a little worried. Thing 1: Dessert at 9:30pm Thing 1: Every Night. Thing 1 has a big goofy grin. Thing 2 looks a little non plussed. Thing 1: Don't worry, if it feels too long to wait there's always pre-dessert. Thing 2: ... Thing 1: STRUCTURE!

Saying No is Hard, Comic Transcript. Bunson Hoppydew, a pink little boy bunny who likes dancing friendship and cake, bounces up and down. Bunson: Oh please, oh please, oh please. Thing 2: The answer is still no. Bunson: hrmmph. Bunson spoings off. Thing 1 goes up to Thing 2. Thing 2 looks a little bashful. Thing 2: I said no to Bunson. Thing 2: I said no to Bunson. Thing 1: I'm so proud of you. Thing 2: Thank you, saying no is hard! The Things smile at each other.

Comic Script Lifestyle Advice from a small pink bunny. Bunson Hoppydew: Good things come to those who wait. Bunson looks up at big clock. Bunson: But sometimes even better things come from dancing. Bunson dances and prances around to music and then he sits down happily, staring out at us.

Lifestyle Advice Transcript Lifestyle Advice from a small pink bunny Bunson Hoppydew: I'm gonna teach my granma how I suck eggs. Bunson: It's so nice when we share ideas with each other. Bunson: There's seldom one way to do anything! Bunson dances and frolics around. Bunson happily sits amongst some dotted and striped Easter eggs. Especially when the eggs are chocolate.

Webcomic Thing 1 & 2 have a lot of lines (sound) beating down on them. Thing 1 now has a lot of lines coming out of their mouth and into the face of Thing 2. The lines beating down have dies away but the lines coming from Thing 1 are even more intense and blasting into the face of Thing 2. There are still lines coming out of Thing 1's face. Thing 2: What did you want to communicate? Thing 1 looks up. Thing 1 looks down. Thing 1's mouth is half open. Thing 1 looks a little sad and big eyed. Thing 1: I think I was just enjoying sounds. Thing 1: Ok.

Webcomic transcript: Bunson Hoppydew: It’s too hard! I can’t do it! Bunson falls asleep sitting up: Zzz zzz Bunson: Zzz do the thing zzz wake up zzz too sleepy zzz five more minutes. Bunson (shakily awake): Huh? Whuh? What day is it? Bunson has his paw out towards a mug of hot cocoa. Bunson frolicking along. Bunson: This is easy! I can do anything!

Liz: Recently I was haunted by a mean e-mail I had sent. She holds her arm and stares into space. Liz: FOUR Years ago Liz: It was bugging me for days. Liz puts her hand to her face.Liz: So I decided to apologize. She smiles.Liz wearing glasses and typing on the computer. Liz: It took me ages to find the email.Liz stares into space with her hands clenched, full of tension.Liz: The email was actually polite! I'd just felt really grumpy when I wrote it!

Mayara: The project in my mind. Is so much better than what comes out. But there is beauty in the work. And through doing, room is made for the next thing.

Thing 1 looks at big pile of squiggles and stuff. Thing hunches looking at the squiggles some more. Thing 2: Hello? Thing 1 (still looking at the pile): I'm looking at old stuff I've done. Thing 1 gets big and jagged looking more deeply at the pile of squiggles. Thing 2: And? Thing 1 looks up. Thing 1 looks down. Thing 1 looks to the left. Thing 1: And Thing 1 and Thing 2 grin at each other. Thing 1: Some of it's really good!

Things 1 & 2: Sometimes I worry let People down not good enough too loud too quiet might hurt someone Things 1 & 2: but then I remember learning space peace play worthiness joy hugs simplicity teddy bears Bunson: And don’t forget Bunnies!

webcomic. Thing 1: Getting better at stuff is hard Thing 2: Yes Thing 1: It's REALLY hard Thing 2: Yes Thing 1: And the more I try, the more I'm aware of SO MANY imperfections Thing 2: True Thing 1: Maybe I should give up Thing 2: Would that make you happy? Thing 1 looks up Thing 1 looks down Thing 1: No Thing 2: You might have to forgive yourself for not being perfect instead Thing 1: Doh! Thing 2: Tee hee

Webcomic. Happy Aprils Fools! If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid – Epictetus Bunson looks up. Bunson: ok! Bunson pulls a series of foolish faces and gestures, sticking his tongue out and rolling on his back. Thing 1: May your day be full of curiosity. Thing 2: and wonder

Folks say just be yourself work hard stay focused you can achieve anything. Thing 1: They make it sound simple. Thing 1: but it's so hard. Thing 1: my body can break sometimes Thing 1: And looking at the gulf between where I am and where I want to be... I feel so small, useless and pointless. Thing 1: I feel so tired. All too often. I am ashamed. Thing 2: it's ok to feel tired. Thing 2: it's ok to have naps.Folks say just be yourself work hard stay focused you can achieve anything. Thing 1: They make it sound simple. Thing 1: but it's so hard. Thing 1: my body can break sometimes Thing 1: And looking at the gulf between where I am and where I want to be... I feel so small, useless and pointless. Thing 1: I feel so tired. All too often. I am ashamed. Thing 2: it's ok to feel tired. Thing 2: it's ok to have naps.

Webcomic. A variety of different looking characters, ranging from a triangle with legs and no facial features, to humanoid characters with spiky hair and a character that looks a bit like a robot biped with a series of shapes stacked precariously on top of each other. Caption: After all these years, I'm still learning how to draw myself

Webcomic. Doodle entity is wearing a tall hat with a large purple flower. Thing 1: Nice hat! Doodle: Thank you, I think it's quite tasteful. Thing 1 leaps up and eats the flower on Doodle's hat. Thing 1: Mmm, and tasty! Doodle: I agree Thing 1 grows a flower out of the top of their head. Doodle is leaping towards the flower with their mouth open Doodle: My turn! Thing 1: tee hee!

webcomic. Doodle's name changes because it doesn't actually have a name, so I change the wording around a bit. Spook and Doodle monster stare at each other Spook and Doodle entity stare at each other some more Doodle creature: Ok, well, seeya! Doodle person leaves. Spook is holding a sandwich. A bit has been taken out of the sandwich. Spook: This is a pretty good sandwich.

Spook: Are you a collaborator? Doodle Entity: No, but I'd like to be. Spook: We could use someone with your co-operative persuasion Doodle Creature: Bunson told me all about it. Can I help with lunch? Spook puts a hand to their face.

Spook looms over Bunson from an interrogation table. Spook: Are you a collaborator? Bunson: Yes! Spook: Not many confess so easily Bunson: I collaborate on jigsaw puzzles and making lunch and I'm a really great dance partner! Spook, with palm on face: It's going to be a long day.

Webcomic. The Things look at each other. Thing 1: I like your face. Thing 2: I like your face. Sometimes Often the obvious is worth saying.

Webcomic Cow: Happy Year of the Ox! Bunson: Are you a cow? Cow: Yes! Bunson puts on a cow costume Bunson: I wanna be a cow! Cow puts on bunny ears. Cow: Ok!

Webcomic. Boot: I didn't always take in the best foods. Boot: Lots of Can'ts, Shouldn'ts, Not Good Enoughs, Don't Deserves, Get Over Its... lots of negatives. Boot: I'm trying to eat more Cans, Wants, Wills, Worth Its and supportives. Boot: It's not always easy, but we are what we eat.

Being a Person Comic Transcript Thing 1: You ok? Thing 2: I'm very tired. Thing 2: Being a person is a full time job. It's so complicated. And it just doesn't stop. Thing 1: That is true, but part is because you try and care and work so hard. Thing 2: Yeah? Thing 1: Yeah.

Transcript Dog: Hello, I'm newish! Doodle entity: Hi, so am I! Dog: I'm a dog! What are you? Doodle creature: I'm... Doodle thingy: I'm me! Thanks to all my patrons and a special big extra thanks to Kate Webb, Erik Owomoyela and Sandra M. Odell.

I thought I'd use this day to read more Martin Luther King speeches, look at some things that aren't so commonly read. Quotes are one thing, but it is nice to read the wholeness of something. The Give Us the Ballot speech has some complexities. It has an optimism towards voting rights that could be read as too optimistic, or a provide a profound reason why voter suppression is so savage and severe. To get the vote turns out to be more complex than saying folks have a thing, there's a whole lot of machinery of government and culture that can work to support or suppress true democracy. The Give Us the Ballot speech is probably not quoted as much because it has an uncomplicated anti-communism statement from someone who had a complicated relationship with the term and faced savage investigation because of the term. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute has some interesting analysis about that. This quote touches so powerfully on a need, still owing, over 50 years later. And when I read the final paragraph of this speech I am reminded about how so many Black voters in the USA are to be thanked for helping get Trump out of Office and changing the balance of power in the Senate. Martin Luther King's praise seems quite fitting when he speaks of the good that can come from Black voters: Keep moving amid every mountain of opposition. (Yes sir, Yeah) If you will do that with dignity (Say it), when the history books are written in the future, the historians will have to look back and say, “There lived a great people. (Yes sir, Yes) A people with ‘fleecy locks and black complexion,’ but a people who injected new meaning into the veins of civilization (Yes); a people which stood up with dignity and honor and saved Western civilization in her darkest hour (Yes); a people that gave new integrity and a new dimension of love to our civilization.” Transcript: [We are] pleading with the president and members of Congress to provide a strong, moral, and courageous leadership for a situation that cannot permanently be evaded.. civil rights issue is not an ephemeral, evanescent domestic issue that can be kicked about by reactionary guardians of the status quo. -Give us the Ballot May 17 1957 Thanks to all my patrons and a special big extra thanks to Kate Webb, Erik Owomoyela and Sandra M. Odell.

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Things webcomic, full transcript below

Feelings of Failure Comic Transcript: Thing 1: Sometimes it feels like the hard I try, the more I fail. Thing 1 cries silently. Thing 2: So what are you going to do? Thing 1: I guess Thing 1: Keep trying? Thing 2: I adore you.

Comic Transcript: Goodbye 2020 Hello 2021 What can we hope? What might still be lost? What changes or lack of changes could swallow us up?....... To be HERE in this pause in this breath. hello world. Thanks to all my patrons and a special big extra thanks to Kate Webb, Erik Owomoyela and Sandra M. Odell.

Transcript: Mayara sits on the doodle monster's nose for the whole comic. The doodle character has loopy ears inspired by a doodle and a large, shapely nose. Mayara: Why are your ears like that? Doodle creature: No reason. Mayara: Do you mind me sitting on your nose? Doodle creature: No, why would I? Mayara: I think we're gonna be friends. Thanks to all my patrons and a special big extra thanks to Kate Webb, Erik Owomoyela and Sandra M. Odell.

Transcript: Doodle Creature: Curves are pretty cool! Boot: Who are you? Doodle Creature stands there in silence with a smile on its face. Doodle Creature: I get that a lot!

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Things Webcomic, full transcript below

Transcript: Liz is wearing her Aikido gi and hakama (Japanese formal wear that looks like an awesome pleated skirt). Liz: Why do I feel so terrible and itchy? Caption: Being hypermobile means that symptoms are sometimes repressed. If you injure something and don’t lose range of motion it can be tricky figuring out what’s going on. It can feel like this... A small spider crawls up onto Liz’s hakama. Liz: Oh look, a spider! Liz pulls up her hakama to reveal two legs entirely covered in spiders. Liz: It’s all spiders!! Liz‘s hakama is back in place. Her hand brushes the one visible spider away from her foot. Liz: Well, at least I know why I’m itchy.

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Comic Transcript: Thing 1 has lots of rays coming in at them. Thing 1 has even more rays coming in at them. Pop! Thing 1 has exploded into lots of little pieces. Thing 1 is a jumbled mess of pieces pulling itself together. Thing 1 has pulled some of itself up, but on of its eyes is falling off the agglomeration of broken pieces. Thing 1 catches its falling eye and looks itself in the eye. Thing 1: We got this. Thing 2: How are you? Thing 1: I broke, and now I’m sad. Thing 1: How did I let this happen? Thing 1: I hate I was so weak. Thing 2: What if you breaking wasn’t a sign of weakness, but a symptom of having been strong for so long.

Transcript: Dog: Mum had an idea for a comic. Dog: It was about dogs. Dog: It was about me! Dog: I was in it! Dog: But she didn’t write it down! Dog: She forgot the idea. Dog: It’s such a shame. Dog: I would have liked to be in another comic.

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Survive Comic transcript Boot: When I was younger, anger and sadness kept me alive. Love was too impossible and made feelings too intense anyway. When I got older that embarrassed me ... and now that I'm even older still I say “you smart young boot, you stayed alive. You worked to be responsible with your anger and you lived... There is no shame in your sadness and anger. No shame staying alive out of spite. You survived. You held on And got us here. And I am glad.

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How Did We Become Friends Comic Transcript Thing 1 and Thing 2 are talking to each other. Thing 1: How did we become friends? Thing 2: I think we recognized each other. Thing 1: Slowly at first, like an itch of a memory. Thing 2: Or a curiosity that had not found its name. Thing 1: Until one day you'd always been there. Thing 2: And the color of the sky had subtly changed.

The things are brave. Transcript in text below

Use Your Potential Comic Transcript Use ALL of your potential! Says enormous lettering. The Things look up at the lettering. Thing 2: What does that mean? Image of a mug teetering on the edge of a table. Caption: This mug has a lot of potential. The mug has smashed on the ground. Caption: Now all the potential energy has been used. First as kinetic, then as noise and a mess. Thing 1: hmmm. Thing 2: Maybe I'll just joyfully and tenaciously pursue stuff I care about.

Courage Doesn't Always Roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." I was looking for inspiration for today's comic and I came across this quote by Mary Anne Radmacher that was so perfect for the Things! I will try again tomorrow.

A Sad 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

The strange bias in our culture against receiving lemons has always struck me as odd. If life gives you a fragrant source of vitamin C that is an essential ingredient in many Mediterranean cuisines, from a tree that needs an adequate supply of water and can be killed by the frost, add a lot of sugar! I feel like it must be a fairly recent saying that started with cheap industrialized food or a saying that started with the clueless and wealthy. If life gives you a three course banquet, chew thoroughly. If dry cleaning your shirts becomes too expensive, get your wife to do it!

Thing transmutes into a puddle of listening feeling

Animated gif, description of actions below. Cute head expanding explosions.

The things like your preferred gender pronouns

The things are right here, right now

The things explore feelings like anger

A redo of the previous comic

The things are caring creatures (who are kind)

The things in conversation

the things discuss the nature of things

The Things talking and figuring out how to hug

Things comic, dialog below

comic starring the two things, transcript below

Thing 1: Sometimes I don't have words, only pictures. Thing 2: *astonished puff of air* Thing 1: You wouldn't understand. Thing 2: *sad puff of air*

Today we stared at the sun until we went blind. It was a good day.

One thought on “Courage (Comic # 242)”

Arkham
03/05/2014, 11:40 am
I needed this today. Thank you so much. <3

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