Expecting the Worst
A terrible strategy. Ask me how I know.
EVENT ALERT! On September 6th at 7pm, at the Cedar Hills branch of Powell’s, I’ll be in conversation with Chris Guillebeau about his new book, Gonzo Capitalism: How to Make Money in an Economy That Hates You. If you’re in the Portland area, join us! Tickets are free but space is limited; register to attend here.
Hi! Hello.
Today’s newsletter has an audio sister. I wrote and recorded a shorter, different version of this essay for It’s Going To Be OK, a newish, daily podcast from the brilliant Nora McInerny1 and her production company Feelings & Co. You can hear my episode here.
About the podcast in Nora’s words: “It’s Going To Be OK” is a hard thing to believe given the state of, oh, everything. Many things are, in fact, not going to be okay at all. But on the advice of a wise therapist, we’re on a quest to find one okay thing about every day. Each morning, we bring you a short story, essay, or interview about one thing that makes us — or our guests — feel like it might not all be so bad ... even if some things are.
If you’re looking for whatever the opposite of a daily doomscroll is, but not in an “untethered from reality” or “it’s all love and light” kind of way, this podcast was made for you. And it’s short—five to ten minutes per episode—so you can listen to the whole thing while you make your coffee (and drink it, if you pound it like I do).
Okay, on to the thing.
When I was growing up, fear, depression and anxiety were my constant companions in my house, in my head, and in my body; deep-rooted and ever-present, like a pack of loyal dogs you also can’t trust. I was raised by a single mom who supported two kids by making art quilts;2 there were money struggles and mental health struggles and isolation and fury and despair, and unresolved trauma that I get to call generational but for my mom, it was just her life.