Gears update: Still MIA.

As I was looking around the socials today it struck me that someday, if it survives, my comic will be a little time capsule of the banality of life in a time in America that is probably never coming back. I’m sure there are more lauded examples that will survive, and be praised for their insight, or whatever, but I’ve always made a point to make sure my work illustrates the pointlessness of everyday life in a way that isn’t narrative in the same way most media is. It rambles around, doesn’t get to a point, plods along, and has no particular endgame the way life actually is. No one beats the game. You are born, things happen, and you die. Then you are forgotten. At best you can hope to guide the flow of life in a positive direction, but there isn’t an endgame when you get to see the good ending. I’ve felt for a while now that people have allowed themselves to adopt the mindset that their existence has narrative structure. That’s not to say that I have zero narrative structure, but more like I’m not rushing to a a goal because I believe that ultimately we are all simply wasting time until we die. Making the time more enjoyable for other people should be the goal for everyone. All of this nonsense I do it me trying to use what meager skill I have to do that. I provide a little moment three times a week where you can look in on this nonsense world and not worry quite so much about the very real, and often dire, world you are really in. That’s also not to say that I live by this ethos all the time. I’m just a human like everyone else and I get moody and lash out because I’m also in the shit with everyone else. Still, I set aside time every day to make an effort to improve the march to the grave for as many people as I can, in whatever way makes mine less awful too.
When I was working retail one of the only things that ever made me feel happy about it was helping people find distractions. As good book, movie, game, or whatever, recharges a person’s ability to go out and be good to others. Helping someone find that is noble in a small way. A little way to take pride in a menial job.
There are about 340 million people in the US. If every one of them did one thing every day in an attempt to improve life for other people it would make quite a difference, I expect. It’s very difficult to see the slow change brought about by small actions. It’s kind of like starting something like this comic. It’s very daunting if you look at all the things you have to do to make 2901 of anything. The magnitude of it can stop you in your tracks, but you just have to forget about all the things you’ll have to do eventually and focus on the first line. Believe in the power of the first action and take it.
My mother often asks why I do various things and my reply is often that “I live in hope.” I’m perpetually walking toward a future that I want to exist. If I give in to despair, and decide that what I am doing will never get me there, I may as well simply lay down and die. I may have a stroke in the next few minutes. Everything I was will cease, my work will be incomplete forever, and I will fade into nothingness, but I hope I won’t. It’s generally better to hope for the best I think.

Anyway, I hope I’ve improved your journey in some small way. I hope you will return on Friday for a little more of whatever it is that you enjoy about my work. Please consider supporting my efforts with the various options I have provided. Until next time, paint the corners.

2901 So Good It Hurts.

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