Okay, before we get started today, I have some news. I’ve done something really different. In February of 2027, I’ll have a new book out, and no, it is not a book for principals. Not at all. It’s completely different.
It’s a memoir. It took me about five years to write (well, it actually took ten times that, if you dissect the meaning of “memoir”).
I received the cover design this week, and boy if that doesn’t make it real. I’m nervous as a cat in a bathtub, though. I don’t know what will happen with it. Publishing books is terrifying. Will it become a thing, or die a quiet and dignified death? Who knows. My publisher is awesome, though, and so is my agent and her manager. It all feels good. Here’s the cover design:
February is a long way away, but you know how time is. Fast. I need to start telling the world and I’m telling you guys first. Just because you’re so supportive of me and I’m grateful to all of you.
But none of that is what today’s newsletter is about.
It’s about problems.
It’s about a quote I saw a few weeks back.
“If every person in the world wrote down their problems and put them in a hat, would you risk grabbing someone else’s? Or would you keep yours?”
It’s a pretty good question. Especially to someone who writes a newsletter with “problems” literally in the title, someone who gets a little geeked about a nice hefty impenetrable problem that needs solvin’.
I sent the quote to a few friends. My sister responded, “I’ll keep mine.” So did my friend Shanna, and Lia, and Andi. And pretty much everyone else I asked.
We all have problems. Big ones, even.
And, as we know, as we’ve been told, you can never grasp the depth of someone else’s— nor, even, your own, sometimes.
We never know what’s happening behind someone’s front door, within their relationships, in their checkbooks and memories and jobs and histories. And we certainly don’t know what’s going on inside their heads.
But it’s easy to think other people have it all figured out.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the problems on our plates. It happens to me all.the.time.
And when I’m feeling that way, there are times I would probably take a risk on someone else’s problems. But that would be impulsive, wouldn’t it? And maybe stupid?
Because at least with my problems, I know what they are, I know who’s involved, and I know I have people to help me solve them. I should keep them. I wouldn’t want to strap someone else with them… and besides, aren’t I the only one who has the uniquely-me mindset to solve them?
So as we move into May, think about the things that are heavy on your mind, and think about the problems you face. At work, sure— parents, teachers, students, the graduations, the parties, the discipline, the work that awaits you once the chaos quiets— and with your non-work self, too.
Think about them.
They are your problems, just like your hair is your hair and your job is your job and your shoes are your shoes. Your problems. And you’re in control of the way you solve them.
There’s quite a bit of gratitude in that. And power, too.
That’s all for now. But let me end by saying I hope this week is being very kind to you 🩷
Warmly,
Jen