Why did I choose this Life?

I had to share THIS today. I read this and I swear to God I had to bite my lip hard to not cry. Cause Bill Waterson said exactly what was in my heart for a long time. In a clear, sharp way. And this cartoonist took his words and made visuals to them, inspired by Waterson. I have to share it. This is my life exactly.

Too many times I am made to feel ashamed that I didn't chose a "real" job or to climb some ladder for another company that time and time again, always let me down. I've discussed the stories of how that happened on the Idiothead Morning Show podcasts before. How I tried to put my faith in a job, only to be declined for my efforts. Same with my wife. Same with my dad, who put in a lifetime of hard work and service to a place, only to be left out to dry and retired in semi-disgrace.

I always knew I didn't fit in with that. I didn't want to live my limited time in this existance like that. I wanted to pursue a life of friendship, love, being a parent, being a writer, an artist... giving back to this world what it gave to me. Sure I was worried about money at times. It is natural you want to feed your family! But it seems I'm always taken care of. I'm always supported. And I thank you for that. Believe me, its not easy. There's worries. Sometime the check takes its sweet time getting here. Sometimes there's no paid work to be had. There's people who look down on me or try to shame me. Make me feel like less of a person because of my choices.

But fuck you. I'm still standing here. I'm still Adam Talley. And you can't take away the things I've done. You can't take away the people whose lives I've impacted. Family, Friends, Fans... you can't stop em. You cannot take away what I've learned, the visions in my head and the things I will do with them. You can't stop me.

But please read THIS COMIC, because I think it hit the nail on the head about me. I really connected with it. You wanna know why I choose this hard life, here's why.

T