Thread by @marcusolang

It's a scary time. And I don't think I'm alone in that sentiment. Not by a long shot.

[This will be one of my more stream-of-consciousness threads, so stay with me.]

I've lived off my writing in one form or the other for a majority of my adult existence. My second love, photography, last year became just as important to my livelihood as my writing. My rent, my food, my health... All tied to these two loves of mine.

I had contingency upon contingency, constantly alert, constantly evolving, constantly adapting to the reality around me.

Right now? I'm seated at home, cup of tea in hand, scrubbing everything off in an attempt to figure out a whole new plan. Because I certainly did not see this one coming.

I've seen post after post of cancelled gigs and cancelled jobs. Money that was expected and planned for, suddenly gone. Poof. As though Thanos just snapped his gem-filled gauntlet.

Boniface Mwangi once talked about how most of us are just one illness away from a whole new existence. I don't think any of us ever pictured it being such an illness; one that, even in ylour relatively good health now, left us with nothing in the pipeline.

It's a scary time. I can't say whether it'll all be fine in the end - the vast majority of human history seems to suggest a rather dark path once certain, very specific things happen. The last 2 years to this point have been as though the perfect storm is brewing.

My view? It's in such moments that courage truly lives. The decision to choose kindness over fear, to act in consideration rather than conceitedness.

Right here and right now though? If you can help someone out, please do.

If your company owes a creative money, please wire it to them. If you can offer a series of small gigs to keep them afloat, please don't hesitate. It's a scary time - especially for those of us without the security of being on a payroll.

With a little bit of empathy and consideration, we may see some light. We may not come out of it unscathed, but we may come out of it nonetheless.

And please, please, should it get to that dire point, share a few of your stacks of tissue with those around you.