McSweeney’s List (7 January 2026)
Words have power. In so many ways, we speak things into reality. For instance, the people who are always complaining, tend to lead themselves into reasons to complain, while attracting others who thrive on the same fuel. By the same token, people who talk about high vibe things usually attract abundance, and people who focus on positive things. Basically, if you step out into the world with something you need to get off your tongue, you’ll find the people and situations that back you up. Words are magick, they are spells; they not only attract what we speak, but also colour our experiences to line up with our expectations.
But what of the words we don't say? Our inner dialogue holds the most powerful mantras of all; these are the words we speak without thinking -- subtle spells we don't even notice, because they are so ingrained. And we speak them from our innermost self into our very bodies and brains, uncensored, unfiltered, direct delivered. They build our world view whether we notice or not. As such, noticing is a powerful life hack: if you change your inner dialogue, you change your life. The first step is to tune in.
I've been thinking about some of our most common inner statements, and I’ve narrowed it down to a couple of curious ones: Why me, and why not me.
Considering how often these statements seep into conversations, it's fair to extrapolate that we say them internally a million times more. So many people are saying these things to themselves at any given time, that the words echo into our communities and society at large, creating a feedback loop. Much like a song you hate that's stuck in your head, the second you shake it loose, you're liable to hear it playing at the grocery store, and you're humming it again. If it happens enough, you might even lean into the song, and start to love it. As such, it's probably impossible to get why me, why not me out of our systems. So what if we change their tone?
We why me when we slip on the ice, or drop our coffee, or get ghosted. But have you ever tried why me when you consider your luck? If you don't believe in fate, you can still get blissed out by statistical odds: what were the odds you would be born in a first world country in the time of modern medicine, safe drinking water, and indoor plumbing? Staggeringly low. So, why you? Why me? If we take my spiritual instincts out of the story, you're still left with the equivalent of a lottery win, and isn't that incredibly humbling? When gifted improbably good dumb luck, all we can do is be grateful and try to be good custodians of our unearned fortunes. Recognizing the gift itself raises our vibration.
Along those lines, the change in tone also applies to our social group. If you're surrounded by love, people who you can be yourself around, people you can talk your deep rabbit hole shit with, you might take a moment to ask why me, with humility and gratitude. You might wonder what unseen goodness you've done to deserve such a beautiful chosen family. Now, if you take that tone too far, you can get tangled up in feelings of unworthiness, so you have to get this one just right. You have to remind yourself that you attract what you emit, and if you feel blessed by those around you, you're putting out awesomeness. Maybe you don't even know what you're emitting or how: on paper, maybe there is no quid for the quo. But I assure you (as I assure myself when I consider this beautiful why me), that you're shining your light in a way that attracts these stunning souls. Doesn't that tell you a bit about how beautifully you glow? Isn't that wonderful?! Ahhhh, bask in that feeling. By the way, if you ask these angels in your life why they love you, they might give you a list of reasons (and you might not believe them; you might think they're looking at you wrong), or they might shrug, unable to articulate the magnetism that draws them to you. Either way, practice knowing that these angels are here because you deserve them.
When we think why not me, we’re often picturing a zero sum game. They got a promotion, and I didn't, why not me? Bro, you guys don't work in the same field; their promotion does not preclude yours. Them finding joy, love, peace, success, does not mean you can't. Once you dispel that myth, you can look at people you admire, and ask yourself the question honestly. This part isn't for the faint of heart. This is where you acknowledge the steps you haven't taken: well, they got a promotion because they work super hard, and maybe you work just enough. And maybe realistically, that's how you like it. And that's ok. You're allowed to do just enough and keep coasting, but you can't act surprised that you aren't excelling. Maybe you want love, but you know that you aren't taking steps to meet people, and that your heart is tucked in a locked box under your bed for safety purposes. That's the real answer to why not you.
The next step is to do the damn things. If you want to follow the path, you have to take the necessary steps. If you see someone with qualities you aspire to, and ask why not me, do it with the tone of I can do this too. Make a plan. Start small. Be the change you want to see in your life (because if not you, then fucking no one, because this is your life).
Even a couple of years ago, I would've scoffed at the thought of being up with the sun. It wasn't clear that I admired morning people, but I was curious about them: early birds gave the impression of healthy choices, clean living, a little preppy shit, and probably some boring NPC energy. Still, they seemed happy…Fascinating. And why not me? Because I prided myself on being too-cool-for-school, and real in a grimey, dark way. Because I fueled up on alcohol until I passed out, and thought sunrises were only worth it if you saw them from the night before. I romanticized the whole thing, and hanging onto those ideas and habits kept me away from other ideas and habits.
If you had told me then that I would be walking in the snow in the forest on New Year's Day, energized with no hint of what even happened last night, I wouldn't have believed you. But even the small steps we take create big ripples, and you end up blinking in the early morning sun thinking oh, this is me now; this is because of the choices I’m making. And you say hi to the chickadees, and the dog tries to chase a wild turkey, and you laugh with your love. The NPC energy of early mornings is fully optional, by the by. You can still be a weirdo at sunrise with a good night's rest under your belt. No disrespect, the world needs NPCs (I think?).
In summary, Dear Reader, if you can't change the lyrics, change the tune. Get comfortable dancing in your own skin no matter what's playing, and if you want to learn some particular moves, remember that first you have to admit you don't know them, and learn them step by step. Get groovy with it. You’ll be amazed where you meet up with your future self. Maybe you’ll grow so tall that you become the inspiration for someone else's paradigm shift. You sure can't know until you try.
DON’T BE CUTE, DON’T BE FUNNY
JRG “Again? Again!”
A recap: you get five minutes. You can't play cute shit on a stringed instrument. You can be funny, but if we get the feeling you're doing standup, we'll cut your mic. We're not big on slam. Other than that, pull up and say your piece, and see feature sets from two local movers, shakers etc. Onward and downward, as you were.
WHAT: JRG Open Mic ft. Sabrina Papandrea & Rebecca Lawrence Lynch
WHERE: Bar L'Hémisphère Gauche, 221 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal, QC H2S 1R5
WHEN: Thursday, January 8 @ 8 PM
METRO: Beaubien (Orange)
DETAILS: Facebook
READ & LISTEN
At Chimera, guests get a chance to read their own works of poetry and/or fiction to a supportive and encouraging audience.
Everyone is welcome. No reservations or tickets.
Sign up the night of the event to read or just come to support!
5 minute time limit.
Hosted by Mel of Phoenix Curiosities.
WHAT: Chimera Literary Open Mic
WHERE: Phoenix Books, 5928 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, H4A 1X7
WHEN: Thursday, January 8 @ 7 PM
METRO: Vendôme (Orange)
DETAILS: Facebook
THE PLACE TO BE
Dr. Lemco’s Creative Club officially has its own space! A place to unlock your creativity, experiment, and remember what it feels like to make stuff (maybe even nice stuff!) just for the sake of making. Plus, it's a social event, so instead of holing up in your place making things all by your lonesome, you get to meet and mingle with other folks! And what's better to make than new friends?! You can bring your existing friends, duh, and then it's a wholesome event that’ll get you out of the coffee / brunch / bar rut that our social lives fall into while we try not to freeze to death.
Anyway, long story short, this week’s creative offering is Date Night Paint Night. Bring your Boo, and leave the rest to the good Doctor. All supplies are included in the ticket price.
WHAT: Date Night Paint Night: Paint Your Date!
WHERE: Tyler Lemco's Creative Club, 5271 Blvd. De Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal, QC H4A 3K6
WHEN: Thursday, January 8 @ 630 PM
METRO: Vendôme (Orange)
TICKETS: Eventbrite
THE CRYSTALS INSIDE
Winter asks the body to listen differently. Beneath the hush, beneath the cold, beneath the thickening dark, something essential begins to gather. The frost line is the boundary where frozen stillness meets the body’s hidden warmth, where subtle currents awaken, and truths emerge in crystalline patterns.
Writing begins here—invisibly, beneath the surface. Before language finds the page, it roots itself in sensation: tightness along the ribs, or warmth cupped behind the sternum—that quiet ember we protect from cold's embrace. Our bodies know how to winter. They know how to pull inward, how to hold heat, and how to wait.
But waiting isn't silence, and it isn't death. Under the ice, rivers still move. Under the numb, stories stir. When we breathe deeper, stretch gently, soften the jaw and the belly, something time-locked begins to crack open and gleam.
This season, we gather at the frost line: that inner threshold where the deep freeze teaches lucidity, where contraction reveals clarity, where the smallest spark becomes a beacon. To write from here is to court the slow burn beneath it all, to trust the body as it reveals what is ready—no more, no less.
Whether you arrive as a longtime writer, a curious beginner, or someone simply craving a space to thaw and listen, this workshop invites you into the quiet power of wintering the body, wintering the word.
Our practice will interweave:
Kundalini breathwork
Stretches & light movement
Creative writing prompts & exercises
Meditation
An optional sharing & discussion circle
Homemade chai & a sweet treat
What to bring:
Your journal, a pen, comfy clothes, and an open heart.
What to know:
Pens & paper will be available, as will floor mats, blocks, and cushions. Seating options include chairs, mats, and back jacks. There will be space to move, shift, and settle as needed. The space is on the 4th floor and there is an elevator in the lobby, however the lobby itself is up a few stairs.
About the facilitator:
Maya Khamala is a lifelong writer of many stripes. From poetry to grassroots journalism to creative nonfiction, word is her bond. She has collaborated with visual artists, and has worked as a freelance copywriter and editor for the last decade. She has a shiny little MA in Creative Writing to list among her credentials, and is an emerging novelist. Maya has an extensive background in feminist, anti-racist, climate justice and Indigenous solidarity movements—work that has deeply informed the way she wields words. Aside from being a writer, she is also a Kundalini Yoga teacher and Embodied Writing facilitator offering regular classes and workshops in Montreal. She got into Kundalini as a way of healing from childhood trauma and its many lifelong manifestations in her body, as well as to counteract being a writer who sometimes forgets to step away from the keyboard…and just breathe.
Cost: $80
All are welcome. Limited spots.
WHAT: Embodied Writing - The Frost Line
WHERE: Halbro Building, 10 des Pins W., Montreal, H2X 2S3
WHEN: Saturday, January 10, from 2 PM to 5 PM
METRO: Sherbrooke (Orange) & Saint Laurent (Green)
REGISTRATION: PayPal
MUSICAL 5 à 7
Martin Saint was the lead-singer and second guitar player with Montreal's The Ember Glows, active between 2019 and 2024.
He now pursues his own solo project under his name as well as other collaborations with various local musicians such as SU, DJ Sarcastic and HJ & The Constellations. Glimmers of Nick Cave, Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Bauhaus and The Doors infuse most of his work.
His last album Seekers, out since April 18th, displays these references a little at a time. Poetic lyrics, baritone vocals, hooks over soundscapes combine to weave a unique cinematic mood.
Martin is also about to release Under The Full Angry Moon, a collection of song lyrics, drawings and short poems as merch to sell at shows
He has been a member of Johnny Couteau's band for the last ten years.
WHAT: Martin Saint (Full Band) + All Flowers Die - 5 à 7 at QDB
WHERE: Quai des brumes, 4481 St. Denis St., Montreal, H2J 2L2
WHEN: Saturday, January 10, from 5 PM to 7 PM
METRO: Mont-Royal (Orange)
DETAILS: Facebook
WORLD’S SMALLEST WEEK
World’s Smallest Comedy Night has so many cool things happening, so here are their events this week in order!
What Do You Know? Like, Seriously…
Tonight! Come to Hurley's for Trivia Night, and get bonus laughter! Enjoy delicious pub fare, and get ready to show off your trivia skills. Grab your team, and enjoy this night of comedy, friendly competition, and great company!
This edition is hosted by Vance Michel, featuring James Mancini, Shosho Abotouk, and Faris Hytiaa!
WHAT: Trivia Night at Hurley's
WHERE: Hurley's Irish Pub, 1225 Crescent St., Montreal, H3G 2B1
WHEN: Every Wednesday @ 8 PM
METRO: Lucien l'Allier (Orange) & Guy-Concordia (Green)
DETAILS: Facebook
Classic Coke
Beat the Monday Blues with WSC’s OG offering, The World's Smallest Comedy Night!
Enjoy a showcase of the best comedians in the city, hot up-and-comers, national and international touring comics, and surprises!
Hosted by Vance Michel, featuring Jacob Silva, Nazeer Khan, Naga Thovinakere, Heidi Lynne Weeks, Dayna Lieberman, Joel Slavik and more surprise acts!
WHAT: The World's Smallest Comedy Night
WHERE: Hurley's Irish Pub, 1225 Crescent St., Montreal, H3G 2B1
WHEN: Every Monday, Doors @ 7 PM, Show @ 8 PM
METRO: Lucien l'Allier (Orange) & Guy-Concordia (Green)
TICKETS: Eventbrite
Dirty Monday
The Monday Night Dirty Mic is the place to be! Hosted by Vance Michel, every show is an unpredictable and unique experience as a hilarious collection of comedians from newbs to pros take the stage. See the best before anyone else, and catch seasoned locals doing their freshest funnies!
Comics: show-up, sign-up
