Hi all,
(This letter is being sent to previous students of mine in the past 3 years, as part of a series I started when UWB first went into lockdown. An archive of previous emails can be found on my website. This might be the last one. Email or send a message if you want to stay in touch!)
How’s everyone doing? I know things are… a lot right now. The country has been especially tense since the election, and then the barrage of executive orders after the inauguration has only heightened that. There’s so much uncertainty and animosity in the world right now, and the head cheeto’s recent attempt to blame plane crashes on DEI, to only offer aid to CA with political conditionals, and to freeze federal funding for anything is absurdly ridiculous. It’s so starkly anti-humanitarian. I’m angry, confused, and saddened that half the world seems completely okay with being completely bonkers and outright hateful.
On top of this, I also know quite a few 20-something-year-olds (and older!) feeling like they’ve not accomplished much in life and feeling discouraged and hopeless. If you’re one of them (and let’s be frank, almost everyone’s felt that way before), you should know that you’re not a failure. Don’t fall for the capitalist bullshit that’s trying to brainwash you into thinking that being “productive” (aka generating money for rich people) is the only way to value your life.
I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: the universe is vast. Like really, really unfathomably humongously vast. And we’re just tiny specks of nothingness that’ll be gone in an instant. The whole of humanity is but a mere hairline sliver of existence when compared to the billions of years the universe has been around, and we’ll be gone just like that. But that’s the thing. It’s amazing we exist, that our temporary configuration of star stuff got together to form us and somehow we have intelligence, self-awareness, and emotions. It’s awesome. The realization could put one on the edge of insanity, but I hope that, instead, you can think of it as majestically brightly amazing. And it means that as humans, we’ve got one job: To live. The fact that you’re reading this means you’re succeeding. Keep at it! And then let go of inhibitions and dance your dance, live your life, like no one is watching because who gives a shit if anyone is watching, anyway? All that matters is to do right by yourself and others. If we don’t know why we’re here, the most sane thing is to at least be kind. And that’s everything (everywhere all at once).
One thing that’s been helping me lately is remembering that we’re not alone in this. There are so many people out there who care, who want to connect, and who are working towards a better future. Speaking of which, have you heard of the Americans of Conscience newsletter? After my last letter to you all, a friend shared it with me (thanks Anders!) so I’m sharing it with you now, too. It’s a great way to stay informed about positive efforts and find ways to be more active and engaged. And if you’re looking for some philosophical comfort, I highly recommend checking out Maria Popova’s The Marginalian blog post “On Consolation.” It’s a beautiful reflection on finding solace and meaning in difficult times.
On a more personal note, I’ve been finding a lot of comfort in building gunpla. There’s something incredibly calming and satisfying about focusing on the intricacies of model kits, sort of like playing a zen game or a cozy game but with a hobby that’s more freeform and has a much higher ceiling for developing expertise. What’s funny is, I’m not even that into Gundam. I just think the mecha are cool, and it’s joyful and fun to sink into such a rich hobby. Recently, I built a model that had such incredible detail to it that, at one point, it required stickers to be applied to a part that was later covered up by a different part! And I love that about gunpla: for them to design and engineer a piece of plastic with detail that only you will see and to have you modify it with skill and care such that you take pride in the craft and in knowing that you did something well that no one else in the world will ever see. It treats this as normal. And well it should! It should be normal to just love living your life and doing well and getting good at something just for the hell of it. And the community around gunpla is awesome, too. It’s what I wish gaming was more like: Less competition and toxicity and more supportive inclusion and people just geeking out on something together.
On the topic of connection and community, I’ve been gearing up a new Discord server for former design students and me… (and especially anyone else unemployed lol). I was hoping it would be a space where we could work on projects together, go through the Google design certificate as a group, and generally just support each other with feedback and co-work or just hang out. But with everything that’s going on, I’ve decided to just make it a more general server for anyone to come hang out and get support and feedback on *whatever*. Like a virtual coffee shop where we can connect and recharge.
And of course, I reiterate my unwavering support for all marginalized communities. With the new Trump administration threatening DEI programs and LGBTQ+ rights, it’s more important than ever to stand up for what’s right and fight for a more just and equitable world. Finding agency in these times means resisting fear and division, seeking out ways to support each other, and refusing to let cynicism take hold. Even small acts of kindness and connection can make a big difference. Check in on your friends and loved ones. Share a hug (real or virtual). Offer a listening ear. And remember, it’s okay to not have all the answers. Sometimes, just being there for someone is enough.
love,
mark
discord: mcdanger
