What Is The Point?
a personal memoir zine
What is the Point? Of Anything. Of Everything. Of life.
The Inspiration
In retrospect I realize I should have titled this zine: Look For the Helpers. But when I began I was more on the “What is the point?” side of the spectrum and to be honest didn’t think that would change, like, ever.
This zine was written on a cold Sunday morning mid-January 2025. It is partially in response to the morose news cycle that media of all kinds feeds on; to the power hungry on all sides that point swords and blame at each other while the people in the middle are the ones who suffer; and to the increase in artificial everything from food to photos to everyday focus.
Many people appear to be putting their head in the sand, feeling helpless, feeling hopeless, ignoring it and hoping it will go away, pointing fingers, checking out.
Idea to Inked
The seed of this story sprouted while I was cutting carrots for Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese Sauce. The sauce takes “at least 4 hours” to cook, so I had a lot of time to contemplate my feelings and put them into words. Truth is: i wasn’t feeling so great.
This zine went from idea to inked in three days.
In telling this story I was able to shift the story and give it fresh, more meaningful meaning to me. This story began by me simply being honest with myself and admitting how I was feeling—that “feeling beneath the feeling” I speak of on page 2.
In feeling the feeling and naming the feeling, that feeling began to change. I wasn’t trying to change it—that part is important. I was just trying to be honest and true with myself. And in telling my story of despair I was able to shift not only my perspective but also my action and orient towards power, hope, and looking for The Helpers in my life.
The Hope
I hope this zine inspires you to be honest with yourself about what you’re feeling beneath the surface.
I hope this zine reminds you to shift your perspective and look for The Helpers, to give them voice, a platform, space in your mind.
I hope that wherever you live that you are a Helper in whatever way you are able.
I hope you this zine inspires you to access your gentle courage in everyday experiences in your life, wherever you may be.
THE READ
To read this zine you will need to print it out, fold it, cut and staple. Instructions for how to fold a double-sided, one-page zine are here.
HOW TO PRINT, FOLD, & CUT
to make a booklet out of these pages
Warning: May cause mental combustion
I admit: putting this one together may be a bit of a brain puzzle. But I numbered the pages so you can figure it out. Unlike my previous double-sided, one-page zines this is a two-pager. So a two-page, double-sided, one-page zine.
When you print the pdf you will need two pieces of paper. Each individual piece of paper gets folded like a one-page zine. But before you cut, it is easiest if you take the second sheet of paper and place it like an insert into the first sheet of paper like a book. Like one book being put into the middle of the first book. It makes it easier to hold it together and staple in the end.
As I say to my daughter, “You can do it. I believe in you.”
*This zine was inked in Backerei Kult, while listening to the group Two Lanes top songs playlist (on Apple). I especially like the title of the song “The Rest Is Noise” & suggest listening to that song while reading this zine. But I mainly listened “Another Time” on repeat while inking this zine.