Over on Medium, I’ve been doing a few writings on failure. As someone who has failed at many things in his life, I’m somewhat of an expert on it. Failure has been a constant companion from childhood all the way through adulthood.
Contrary to what you might think, I’ve come to look at my failure as something to be celebrated, not scorned. Yes, I may fail, but I am never defeated. Refusing to admit that we fail is silly. Everyone fails all the time. Life is made up of a thousand thousand failures that culminates in that one Great Failure: Death, a failure to survive.
Failure is a teacher. Failing to ask Natalie Nelson to dance in 8th grade has taught me not to let fear govern my actions. Failing as a teacher showed me that I needed to heal from years of overeating and self-abandonment. Failure to gain full independence has taught me something equally valuable: Independence is a myth.
We like to think of ourselves as self-made. As independent, free-thinking individuals, not beholden to anyone. Living as a disabled man, constantly low on money stuck in underemployment, being forced to rely on my parents more than I’d ever expected to has been a humbling experience. I’ve longed for independence, but it has eluded my grasp, like a fly buzzing around my head.
But the truth is none of us are really independent. We all rely on each other to some extent. We rely on farmers to grow our food. I rely on employers to pay me, so I can pay bills on the electricity I need to function in the working world. And so on.
One of the great runs on Batman in modern comics was that of Grant Morrison who held it as the central truth that Batman, the ultimate self-made superhero, was never alone. Alfred was always there. Along with Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing, and all the others.
It is no great shame to depend on someone else. It may be a failure, but it is the right kind of failure.
If you’d like to check out my postings on failure over on Medium, feel free to visit my new blog over at Not Another Failed Writer. I also have a few of my comics for sale over at IndyPlanet, if you’re in the mood for some slice-of-life comedy with superheroes.
Starting this month, I’m also going to devote a part of my newsletter to highlighting the work of other creators. When you visit, tell them William sent you.
Cete is a comic book creator and illustrator responsible for the phenomenal Plan31, which I recommend you either reading online or picking up in hardcopy. Or both. Cuz it’s amazing scifi goodness. He’s headquartered out in Germany, but his stuff is in English.
Greg Burnham and Marcus Williams are a pair of comic creators who also specialize in high-octane scifi. They’re current project, Tuskegee Heirs, is about a squadron of Black fighter pilots who defend the earth from vicious alien invaders. Part Voltron, part homage to the WWII Black fighter pilots of yesteryear, Tuskegee Heirs is a great read, one I highly recommend. Or will, at least, once I finally get around to reading my copy. (What? I’ve been busy.)
Anyway, that’s all for now. Hope you are doing well.
Love this William! I could not agree more. I can confidently look back on so many failures and schools at the person they helped me to become!