We Go On: How I Plan to Keep Going
Launching a Patreon to Push Things Forward
I lost my older brother in 2015. That was the second biggest surprise of my life. The first came in the months that followed. My faith, my optimism, my courage, my smile, my desire to go on, all crashed as quickly (and effortlessly) as a house of cards. What hurt most was that when I was at my lowest, I was my loneliest. I wasn't just sad, I was angry at the fact that no one prepped me for something that everyone of us is guaranteed to go through. Since then I've learned that misery doesn't love company, it needs it. At our lowest, we need to be reminded that other people have been there before and that this isn't the end.
So I started working to make sure no one else surprised by something that's coming to all of our front doorsteps. So I got to work and one thing led to another.
So I started a podcast.
Then I wrote a book on grief and hope
Then I made a mini-documentary
Then a soundtrack.
Then I curated a series of live events to help people hold on to hope (the goal was to do FIVE, but after the 2nd one we kept getting calls to do it in other cities. So we're gonna keep it going--indefinitely).
The more things I create, the more opportunities I see for new creations. Your support so far has been invaluable. Not just through book, ticket or merch sales. But through encouragements. The kind words, thoughtful responses, the DM’s encouraging me to keep creating have all been life giving in ways y’all can’t imagine. Those small seeds of encouragement have helped to birth the next thing. And the next thing. And the next. I find myself at a bit of a fork in the road now. In order to keep things going, I'm needing to invite some of y’all on as partners. So today, I got over myself, set up a page, and am writing a letter at 4:51pm EST. (I’m not even going to schedule it for Four in the Morning like I typically do. I’m just gonna let it fly after Grammarly fixes all my punctuation errors.)
Everything impactful I’ve ever done has been as a result of me being a part of a team. This space is my way of inviting you to join me. In hopes that we can insert hope in a world that’s constantly grieving. Your support helps to ensure more people can benefit from the message in and heart behind We Go On.
Tragedy doesn't ruin us. Hopelessness does. The goal in life is to hold on to hope...however you can. That's why this page exists--to help people hold on to something that's so slippery.
Today, I’m launching a Patreon. No BIG Announcement. No Marketing Plan. Just a letter shared with y’all. The people who have decided to join me on this journey. If you’ve been helped by what’s been put out and want to join the team to ensure more of the same finds it’s way into the world, visit: PATREON.COM/JAWNO
Thanks for considering being a part of helping others hold on to hope.
Peace,
John O