Outlookin

This week’s new Dustinland comic was inspired by my last trip into the city for work. I was walking to the office when I had this realization that I could be unfairly assuming everyone is awful. I mean, they could be, but is that the best way to live? I remember this graduation speech that David Foster Wallace gave, where basically he said sure, we can assume the worst of everyone, we may even be right about it… but we should strive to not see the world that way. After all, will it make us happier to live in protective bubbles of cynicism and disdain, or will it make us hate life and everyone around us?

Now, I’m not saying I live in the happy rainbow world either. But we’re always evolving and I think at least I’m more and more aware of my thoughts and sub-thoughts, and all I can do is strive to be better and happier.

Also weed girl in the comic is not a real person. I just thought it would be a funny way to end the strip so I made up this stoner friend. I do actually know someone like that but he’s a pretty normal looking dude and I didn’t feel like drawing that. High five.

Negative Outbreak

This new Dustinland comicis about how optimistic and pessimistic outlooks affect how you’re doing during times of crisis. Namely, this huge global pandemic that is absolutely fucking everyone’s shit up right now. Fun times!

Optimist Prime

This week’s new Dustinland comic is about optimism. I know! Me, right? Well, I won’t give anymore away — the comic really explains the whole thing. By the way, I still haven’t finished the book I refer to in the strip, so maybe I’ll have to make a follow up comic at some point in the future if things go awry.

Stay Young

I’ll admit it, a lot of my comics are depressing. I am definitely a pessimist. Or perhaps a realist at best. But as I allude to in this week’s new Dustinland comic, that’s what’s nice about being a parent. Kids are so naive and wonderful, they do seem to really love life. And that’s something to learn from. True, you can never go back to the garden again, but you can at least try to learn something from the way they experience life. In the face of such endless misery — like the awful events in the news today, this week, this month, this past year — what else can you do but try to do your best, to make the world better, and to find some joy in the world, wherever you can.