I ran into a girl I graduated high school with who is now making gorgeous vegan cakes. She bakes and decorates them. We were never super close, but always had a lot in common deep down—both of us big dreamers and driven, with a touch of spiritual witch going on. Always into a new creative endeavor as we float around the halls and people of Earth. 

Anyway, she starts telling me about a book she just read about the importance of problems in our lives. Always having something to make better. Good problems. Always something to shoot higher for—and I totally got it. I was hearing her, and now I cannot stop thinking about it. It’s kind of the meaning of life. Creating new goals for our personal selves. Not work goals. It’s different. 

 What’s the next big, good problem we can make for ourselves? What is the next good problem to solve so that we cannot wait to wake up in the morning and solve it? Currently it’s the transformation of my novel. I thought it was for ages 8-12. Turns out it’s for 11-16 year olds. A good problem to fix. I get to curse and flesh out my character’s emotions more. 

Make good problems for yourself. Don’t be complacent and content for too long. I believe making art/books can change the world, one mind at a time. I believe art can help kids survive and make our world better for future generations. Maybe for you, it’s not art, but I bet in some way your problem-solving can also change the world.

Thanks friend who bakes cakes. 

Enjoy this little tune I sang 15 years ago. It’s not mine. It is a cover of The Sundays’ Here’s Where the Story Ends.  

-Elaina