Sean Gibson > Status Update

Well said.

💯. I just finished Tom Taylor’s Injustice Year Zero and (no spoilers) the connection between Superman and Green Lantern’s partner Jimmy made me tear up. The humanity between those characters reminded me that the personal connections and community we create will help us through this. I needed that story today.

I feel this in my soul. Thank you for being part of the storytellers who hand out that joy. May we all stick together. 💛

I've been having more of an urge to read now than I have in years, and I think you've just pinpointed why.

Krystle wrote: "Well said."

Well, Krystle, I have way with...uh, what do you call 'em...

Letter combinations.

Chris wrote: "💯. I just finished Tom Taylor’s Injustice Year Zero and (no spoilers) the connection between Superman and Green Lantern’s partner Jimmy made me tear up. The humanity between those characters remind..."

I'm so glad you found it when you needed it, Chris, and it sounds like I need to read that one! I haven't read enough Tom Taylor, I don't think.

M♡ wrote: "I feel this in my soul. Thank you for being part of the storytellers who hand out that joy. May we all stick together. 💛"

I mostly hand out bad puns, but I am all in on sticking together!

Donna wrote: "I've been having more of an urge to read now than I have in years, and I think you've just pinpointed why."

Sometimes it's the only thing that makes sense.

Sarah wrote: "Sometimes I’ve found myself feeling more and more bitter toward fellow Americans, because it’s hard not to feel like hate has already won anyway. But then I see stories of people coming together fo..."

I think we have to keep reminding ourselves of that. It would be easy--heck, even understandable--to throw our hands up and give in at this point. But we can't, because we can be better, collectively. And we will. I believe that, even in these dark moments.

Today, I finished reading Becky Chamber's "To Be Taught, If Fortunate". Uplifting and sends a message that there still could be a future where humans decide together and choose a healthier path forward than what we see today.

Peter wrote: "Today, I finished reading Becky Chamber's "To Be Taught, If Fortunate". Uplifting and sends a message that there still could be a future where humans decide together and choose a healthier path for..."

That sounds like a great read!

Well said! I am all about escapism right now!!!

Douglas wrote: "Well said! I am all about escapism right now!!!"

We are Gibsons of a feather...

Mine isn't so much anger but just sadness when I see people I thought I knew cheering for decisions that are freeing criminals, signaling hate, and going to cause overwhelming tragedy for others. I'm trying to do the escapism thing into my books but it is hard sometimes.

Rickey wrote: "Mine isn't so much anger but just sadness when I see people I thought I knew cheering for decisions that are freeing criminals, signaling hate, and going to cause overwhelming tragedy for others. I..."

I understand completely, my friend.

It's so upsetting to feel the moral and foundational ground beneath you crumble as you realize that things you took for granted as collectively held values just...aren't. And, increasingly, there's such a fracturing of points of view, even among people who seem generally aligned, that it's almost impossible to agree on anything beyond the most very basic tenets. And even those seem up for debate.

The tide of history is never without storms, but this feels like a big one, and I'm not sure how confident I feel in the seaworthiness of our boat anymore.

Agreed 100% I really appreciate this thoughtful post, Sean! 🫶🏻 I've been reading a ton lately to escape and keep myself centered; much better than doom scrolling.

Mary ♥ wrote: "Agreed 100% I really appreciate this thoughtful post, Sean! 🫶🏻 I've been reading a ton lately to escape and keep myself centered; much better than doom scrolling."

Some days, it's the very best form of self-care!

Sean wrote: "Rickey wrote: "Mine isn't so much anger but just sadness when I see people I thought I knew cheering for decisions that are freeing criminals, signaling hate, and going to cause overwhelming traged..."

Thanks, I've always tried to be one to understand how people think because I truly believe in the individual but I've always believed that there was an underlying sense of "good" driving most people's choices, even if misguided in their actions. This has caused a lot of internal introspection for myself while also looking at what world that I want for my kids. Going to be rough next few years for a ton of people across the world.

Rickey wrote: "Sean wrote: "Rickey wrote: "Mine isn't so much anger but just sadness when I see people I thought I knew cheering for decisions that are freeing criminals, signaling hate, and going to cause overwh..."

I empathize--I feel very similarly. We have to meet people where they're at in order to try to find common ground to move forward together as a society, but when we find that our ideas of what constitutes "good" or "right" or "moral" are wildly disparate, that common ground transforms from a Venn diagram to two completely separate circles floating in space.

What a great comment! And yes for me reading truly does allow me to escape and not have to confront what is happening around me right now.
And Sean, you are included when I say Thank You to all the authors I've been reading, please keep up the good work for all of us.

Charlton wrote: "What a great comment! And yes for me reading truly does allow me to escape and not have to confront what is happening around me right now.
And Sean, you are included when I say Thank You to all the..."

Well, gosh--thanks for saying that, my friend! I appreciate it. I promise to keep spewing nonsense onto paper. :)

Well said, Sean. The universe definitely needs to connect with its better, gentler, kinder aspects right now.

…Except when Cleveland is playing the Tigers or the Pistons. 😬

How sweet, Sean............and I totally agree.

Jill wrote: "How sweet, Sean............and I totally agree."

We readers have to stick together!

Sarah Mac wrote: "Well said, Sean. The universe definitely needs to connect with its better, gentler, kinder aspects right now.

…Except when Cleveland is playing the Tigers or the Pistons. 😬"

BOOO CLEVELAND!

But yay Sarah! :)

Sean, I am of the same opinion as you regarding your Venn diagram point. For me, it's not clear how I would want to interact with people who advocate hate, intolerance, lies, and other such darkness. I suppose this was always an issue, but now it seems they are visible in large numbers and being normalized.

I thank you for starting this thread and trying to bring out the good that is still well and alive in many people, also in large numbers! In solidarity.

Further proof that you’re dedicated to promoting a higher standard for humanity: not gloating over how many times Skubal kicked the Guards around the infield last season. 😂

Sarah Mac wrote: "Further proof that you’re dedicated to promoting a higher standard for humanity: not gloating over how many times Skubal kicked the Guards around the infield last season. 😂"

WE NEED TO PAY THAT MAN!

Peter wrote: "Sean, I am of the same opinion as you regarding your Venn diagram point. For me, it's not clear how I would want to interact with people who advocate hate, intolerance, lies, and other such darknes..."

I understand completely, Peter. All we can do right now is rally around each other, the like-minded folks who believe that kindness and empathy and support for each other are not weaknesses, but the greatest of our strengths.

I love the community I've found on Goodreads because, by and large, that's how I would characterize all of the wonderful people I get to interact with on here. Let's just try to keep picking each other up off the mat...

Thank you. You are a bright spot in this already lovely community of readers. Thank you for articulating these thoughts so beautifully.

Marie wrote: "Thank you. You are a bright spot in this already lovely community of readers. Thank you for articulating these thoughts so beautifully."

Well, golly...thank you for saying that!

Thank you for putting that into words. I've definitely been escaping into my writing and reading a lot lately, and some of your stories have definitely been a part of that escape, so thank you! I hope you're doing well. <3

Aja: wrote: "Thank you for putting that into words. I've definitely been escaping into my writing and reading a lot lately, and some of your stories have definitely been a part of that escape, so thank you! I h..."

Well, gosh...what a terribly kind thing to say!

(Why do we use the word "terribly" in a context like that? English am confusing.)

I'm glad we're all able to find some solace in stories...I need to carve out some writing time! And brain space.