In May 2012, Neil Gaiman delivered the commencement address at Philadelphia's University of the Arts, sharing thoughts on creativity, bravery, and strength. As the world goes through one big communal tough time, these words spring to mind:

When things get tough, this is what you should do: Make good art. I’m serious. Husband runs off with a politician — make good art. Leg crushed and then eaten by a mutated boa constrictor — make good art. IRS on your trail — make good art. Cat exploded — make good art. Someone on the Internet thinks what you’re doing is stupid or evil or it’s all been done before — make good art. Probably things will work out somehow, eventually time will take the sting away, and that doesn’t even matter. Do what only you can do best: Make good art. Make it on the bad days, make it on the good days, too.

The whole speech is available in Gaiman’s Make Good Art, a lovely little book (designed by Chip Kidd) full of big wisdom.