Wednesday: A day for Art and Friendship
An Unexpected Post
*Before you begin, please note that there are some spoilers for the show WandaVision
I want to start off by saying that I had not planned to publish a Substack today, but like many of you, I woke up with a lot of unexpected feelings and emotions. Yesterday did not go the way I thought it would.
This season of personal growth has had me living my life in a more honest and truthful way than I have ever dared to go. I felt as though I were actively working towards a brighter future, not just for myself, but for my friends, my community. I thought I was working toward an exciting and historic new chapter for our country.
As I watched the election results roll in last night, an overwhelming feeling of shock and uncertainty quickly replaced the optimism that had been driving me over the past several months.
I woke up this morning feeling numb. I looked at the results on my phone, and felt like my brain was not processing the information. It was as if I were looking at a joke article from The Onion, because the reality I had been living in did not match what I was seeing in front of me. I had to face the devastating fact that I had been living in a bubble these past few months, that something I did not think possible, was in fact the truth. I felt like Wanda Maximoff in WandaVision, when her spell over the town of Westview began to glitch out of her control, forcing her to face the false reality she had created.
WandaVision, episode 7
The thought of getting dressed, leaving the house, participating in society felt like a joke, an impossible task after the outcome of last night. Frankly, I probably would have stayed home today if it had not been Wednesday…
Wednesday: Art Morning and Friendship
One of the greatest developments from the past few months has been the establishment of Art Morning every Wednesday. Art Morning began back in June, when a dear friend was preparing for a solo art show. These mornings grew to include our other dear friend, and now involve getting together for breakfast a couple of times a month. This Wednesday ritual has become a wonderful way of maintaining our friendship, giving us the time and space needed to support each other.
Originally, we had not planned to get together today due to it being an especially busy week. Though after seeing the results of last night, we agreed it was important to get together briefly, to process the election results while in the comfort of each other’s company.
I am glad we were able to get together today, because it helped me process some key things. I am not alone in my feelings of uncertainty for what is to come. As millennials, we are used to living in unprecedented times (unfortunately). It feels as though our entire adult life has been one unprecedented disaster after another.
While Art Mornings began as a temporary activity in order to prepare for a show, the tradition born out of this dedicated time has helped us through various life changes, joyous moments of celebration, as well as days of sadness and stress. I am so thankful for my friends being a constant pillar of strength and love.
Community is important, now more than ever, and I will keep working towards the world I want to see. I will continue to live and create in my own small way. I hope you are all able to find your own version of Art Wednesdays. And if your community is only you and one or two other people, remember that there is beauty in the small. Our mornings of friendship impact us beyond our Wednesday meetings. The effects of our time together are felt in our homes, in our places of work, and in our larger communities. The joy and love reaches beyond the three of us.
As always, thank you for reading.
And know you are not alone.
