By It is high summer in Michigan—though that feels strange to say. This year has somehow flown by, yet also felt like being trapped in a waiting room. In many ways, it still feels like summer hasn’t truly begun.
Between switching jobs, adopting a puppy, planning a wedding, getting married, going on a minimoon, planning a honeymoon in Italy, and moving again, life has been full-throttle. I’m ready for it to slow down—ready to return to nature, books, and writing for a while.
The world feels increasingly tumultuous. There’s so much suffering, so much uncertainty. Prices are soaring, anxiety around AI is growing, and trust in global governments continues to erode.
Without sounding too much like a dystopian novel, I worry about what advancing technology means for artists—myself included—and for future generations. It’s a strange time to be alive. I was recently one of 17 people laid off after our roles as writers at a marketing firm were completely replaced by AI. Why pay for human creativity when tools like ChatGPT offer immediate, free labor?
That said, I now find myself with more free time. And in that time—though I have less income—I’ve started to find my way back to myself. So I don’t see it as entirely negative. Time doesn’t always equal money. In fact, the older I get, the more I believe the opposite.
In a cynical world marked by apathy and a rise in hedonism among younger generations (and honestly, who can blame them?), I sometimes feel guilty for working on creative projects. But creativity has always been my safe space. I think making art is a quiet act of rebellion—a way to resist despair and remember beauty. Because there is still so much beauty in our world, waiting to be discovered, honored, and created.
For now, we humans remain the heartbeat of this world. As long as we can think, feel, move, breathe, and love—we must continue to create. Whether it’s making a nourishing meal, writing a love letter, or painting a portrait, the world needs more art. More intentionality.
More slowness.
More connection.
More time in nature.
More creativity.
More yearning.
These are the things that make us human—and so should they be celebrated.
Wherever you are, and whatever is going on in your life this summer, I hope you find time for the things that bring you joy, make you present, and reconnect you to yourself.
Onward,
Jessica
☾Jessica♥Malen☽ 
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