Small Steps, Big Mountains

A friend asked me if I felt that people were overreacting to the results of the 2016 election or if I was a little afraid.

I'm legit afraid.

I’m not just afraid of policies that might be carried out. I'm afraid for humanity.

I’m afraid of a fascist dictator, who encourages violence against peaceful protesters. I’m afraid of a nation full of people who blame immigrants and members of other religions for their own problems. I’m even afraid of friends and family members (though I still love you all) who think it’s okay to vote for someone who so openly has expressed his misogynist feelings towards women. I’m afraid of being set back in decades of progress.

I hope this fear we are experiencing pushes us to stand up for what is right. And I think that it certainly will.

A lot of people are legit afraid. And fear pushes people to action.

Fear pushed people to vote for Trump. His campaign has been fear-based, encouraging a nation to live in a world of scarcity - not enough money, not enough resources, not enough space for outsiders.

Now fear will push people to stand up for rights.

People are coming together; showing respect for all the different groups that Trump has offended; showing that they care and that we aren't going to let everything go straight to hell; showing solidarity and support for their fellow human beings.

I think we were overconfident that the good guys would win.

The sad reality has now hit us that we will have to continue to fight for positive change.

It starts small:

• Volunteering at places that support women’s rights, equality, LGBT, education.
• Speaking up against bullies and bullying behavior.
• Asking questions to better understand someone else’s viewpoint.
• Donating to Planned Parenthood or other organizations that might suffer from this.
• Protesting when something is happening that will damage others or the planet.
• Being kind to each other, even when we have disagreements, and we certainly will.

It's okay to be sad. It's okay to be angry. It's okay to be afraid. These are temporary feelings and they don't define us. They do, however, tend to lead to action.

Let’s stand together to make local changes and support causes we believe in no matter what our government looks like. With the nation so divided, let us unite. We’re stronger together.

In order to climb a mountain, you must take many small steps. In order to make big changes, we need to make smaller local changes.

No matter what candidate you voted for, no matter what country you’re from, or religion you practice, or your sexual orientation or what gender you identify with, you’re a living creature and you have every right to be heard. I don’t have to agree with you and you don’t have to agree with me. Varying opinions are good. Discussions should be taking place. Because with the infinite variables we face from birth to death, not a single one of us is going to think, feel or believe the exact same things as any other. And that’s a good thing! That leads us to question things, to make positive changes. Sometimes we make bad changes too. Sometimes we allow bad things to happen. But we can learn from those mistakes.

It’s a shame that so many people don’t seem to think that our differences are a good thing. I look around and I see beautiful variations. I see acceptance and understanding.

Today, I’m gonna cry. I’m gonna feel physically ill. I’m gonna mourn. And maybe I am overreacting.

But tomorrow, you can bet your f***ing a** I’m gonna plan my next small step.

Issue 2 Now Available

Mag is now set up to purchase online. PHEW. Thank you to all who contributed to the spring issue and looking forward to working with summer contributors in the glorious month of May.

Also made a crowdfunding thing bing!












Thank you, everyone, for the continuing support. 

A Letter From The Ediot

Hey there. Niche here. I’m the editor & creator of Preposterous Magazine, nestled in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania.

Preposterous is a magazine about the simple things in life that are happening all around us that are ridiculous but also magical in some way. It may contain art, fantasy, illustration, photography, poetry, musings and rigmarole.

If you are reading this and think you have something cool to contribute to Preposterous, PLEASE contact me. I’m currently accepting short stories, limericks, illustrations, photography, thoughts, advertisements, spells, charms, esoteric knowledge, therapeutic activities and other creative thing-bings that might be swirling around in your brain parts.

I learned a lot from issue #1 which I created for the winter times. I learned to embrace the fear of making a thing that I didn’t really know how to make. Then I learned to embrace the fear of distributing that thing to family and friends. Now I am about to embrace the fear of distributing the next thing throughout the area in which I live. To strangers.

Also, I am making this site.

I’ve been trying to figure out what the end goal is for Preposterous Magazine, and I think it’s simply to amuse, inspire, inform, and share. Toward that end, and in order to find more content for the spring issue, I had to open up to a lot of people. I had to get out of my comfort zone. I had to walk into strange rooms. I had to ask intelligent questions to strangers. I had to praise other people for their good work. Why was that so hard for me? I think deep down I have this fear that people will think I am not being genuine when I compliment them or their work. I hesitate to do it, because of a strange gut feeling that they will think I’m somehow full of crap. I realized how much that has held me back. And although it was all so very exhausting (I am an INFP - a true introvert at heart), it was also very rewarding. I met many local and international artists who are doing great things. 

I began to gain some confidence when my comments were met with a smile or a similar enthusiasm to my own. I made connections with people. I sat down next to a stranger who was playing guitar and sang a song with him. In front of OTHER STRANGERS. Obviously I was reeling from my newfound confidence.

So I have concluded that I might as well just keep fear-conquering. So please enjoy this little Lehigh Valley magazine & site and tell me how you feel about it or ask me about contributing content or tell me why it scares you by emailing me at theartofniche@gmail.com. 

Thank you kindly,