Happy Impulse

I'm Roberta, aka Happy Impulse, and I illustrate no-bullshit, social commentary art. And chat with creatives on my podcast about the bullshit going on in our society and how our creativity can positively impact the world around us. I have then turned several of my illustrations into shit people can buy, like prints, stickers, apparel, and small leather goods. But if you want the behind the scenes, it would be something like this: I fell in love at first sight with a scrawny little boy, when I was 12. My heart followed him everywhere. He loved swimming, dragons, God and me. When I was sexually assaulted at 16, my scrawny boy loved me anyway. We danced at proms and military balls and shared our first kiss on the beach under a full moon. It was cold, awkward and absolutely wonderful, filled with all the magic of the world. At 18, my scrawny boy, drowned in his pool on mother's day, and I swore to God that I would never love again. At 23, I move across the country for my dream job with my still tender heart. But I kissed a girl, just to try it, and fell in love. She is a beautiful, tattooed, Filipino, with dark shades and a smile that makes me nervous. At 24, I told friends about my other half without "her" pronoun, but she loved me anyway. She was a call away when I came out to my cousin, who told me I was going to Hell. And right by my side when we told my mom, who was a bit upset about it all. At 27, she held my hand at my father's funeral, what a way to come out to my small conservative town. My mom who loves god, loved me and my beautiful girl anyway. At 31, she still loves me, how lucky am I.