The Problem

Hello Universe 234

In 26 weeks, Hello Universe will turn 5 years old! 5 years! FIVE YEARS!

I want to do something special for this occassion. Here are some of the options I'm considering.

1. Publish a poetry collection book featuring some of my favorite poems from the last 5 years, plus some new ones, plus some visual art.

2. Start an Instagram page where I read out my poems.

3. Both of the above.

4. None of the above.

I'm not sure what I think yet. Maybe it's a problem you can help me solve! Sound off in the comments or shoot me an email what you think I should do. If you share a detailed suggestion, that would be awesome, or if you just write the option number you prefer (1 / 2 / 3 / 4 ), or have any new ideas for how to celebrate, I would be grateful to you, dear reader.

We've built this place together over time. Now let's decide together how to celebrate half a decade of its existence!

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Today's poem is about a lifelong quest. I've often described myself as a “problem solver”. As you know me to do, I've recently examined this part of my identity, really broken it apart, tried to make sense of it, and have realized that in some ways, this identity has become an obsession.

Just like a hypochondriac would think up a disease they think they might be inflicted with, I've often invented problems just so I could solve them. Not having a problem to solve makes me anxious, restless, and unhappy with myself.

My obsession with problems is a problem.

Thus, today's poem is an attempt to reflect on this proclivity, and find a way to reason through it. As much as I'm writing it to help myself, I really believe you'll get something meaningful out of it too, dear reader.

Alright, poem starts in 3… 2… 1!

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It gnaws at me daily,
it wrecks up my brain.
It troubles my thinking 
again and again.

It's shapeless and formless,
it's fuzzy and grey.
It leaves me dumbfounded,
don't know what to say!

For it is The Problem.
The Problem to solve!
The Problem whose answer
will have me absolved.

The Problem that prowls
like a cat in the night.
That follows my footsteps
and dims every light.

It whispers through windows,
and hides in my tea,
It tangles my shoelaces,
won't let me be!

I've chased it through highways
and forests of thought.
I've set out some traps
but it cannot be caught!

With stress and exhaustion,
I lie down to rest,
and notice The Problem
has curled on my chest.

It purrs like an engine,
it weighs like a stone,
and under its weight,
I am feeling alone.

But then I realize,
we can talk as it sits.
So I ask it, "Hey Problem,
why do you exist?"

It looks at me fiercely,
with fire in eyes,
and questions me calmly,
"Do you realize?

A Problem's not meant
to be conquered or slain.
It's simply the proof
that you're using your brain.

For life without questions
is life without wonder.
A Problem's your compass,
your lightning, your thunder.

So, hey, when I visit
and muddle your day,
just welcome me kindly
and let me just stay.

The seeds of your future,
are what I will sow.
I'll gnaw at you daily
and that's how you'll grow."

I struggled to learn
what did it really mean?
Thought it couldn't hurt me,
and welcomed it in.

I played with it gently,
I called it my pal,
and sometimes didn't 
think about it at all.

It saw my intentions,
it saw my good acts.
It saw my reflections,
and saw all my facts.

We saw eye to eye
and resolved our disputes.
It still does exist
but it's not my pursuit.

By not being obsessed
and learning to let go,
The Problem's turned into
the best friend I know.

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Thanks for reading edition 234 of Hello Universe!

It was a self-reflective one, and I’m curious to know how you deal with life's problems. Are you someone who couldn't be bothered? Do problems perturb you too much? Or are you somewhere in the middle?

Share your point of view on problems in the comments below, and hey, don't forget to suggest how should I celebrate 5 years of writing to you!

I'm so excited to be just 6 months away from a major Hello Universe milestone. Thank you for being here with me, dear reader, I truly treasure you.

Here's a fun track for the rest of your week:

That's it for this week, see you next Tuesday!