Because We’re Here

I can’t believe 2021 is already almost over.

This is the time of year when everyone is talking about their achievements—getting married, having kids, publishing a book, reaching some milestone of social media followers, how many books they read, etc.. It’s very easy to look back on your own experiences and compare, or more likely, contrast. Maybe you lost your job this year, or broke up with your significant other. Maybe your highlight reel isn’t as long as all of the people you see online.

I hope I’m not the first to tell you this, but making it through this year, with everything going on in the world, is no small feat. You should be proud of yourself for simply getting out of bed and going to work, or searching for a new job, or trying out a new hobby or interest. I’ll tell you one thing for sure: I am so proud of you.

In John Green’s podcast (and book) The Anthropocene Reviewed, he has an essay about the song “Auld Lang Syne”, which is usually sung and played around the holidays and into the New Year. If you haven’t listened to that episode, I highly recommend it—I’d recommend having some tissues nearby.

In the essay, John talks about one of his author friends who had recently (as of the publication of the podcast episode) passed away from cancer. He mentions that at some of her live events, she would ask the audience to sing “We’re here because we’re here” to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. John writes that he could always find hope in singing this tune with his friend.

“It became a statement that we are here—meaning that we are together, and not alone. And it’s also a statement that we are, that we exist. And it’s a statement that we are here, that a series of astonishing unlikelihoods has made us possible and here possible” (The Anthropocene Reviewed, 152). I love this quote because it reminds me that none of us are truly alone, even if we are apart.

The holidays can be a hard time for a lot of people, and if things are triggering for you this season, know that I am thinking of you. A lot of people are thinking of you. We are here for you, even if you don’t see us, or even know us.

I hope you find a reason to feel hopeful this season, and as the year comes to a close.

We’re here because we’re here, because we’re here, because we’re here…

Happy holidays & stay safe,

—Abbie