Poetry bridges between our emotional and rational capacities. Though it may feel foolish (and getting comfortable with feeling foolish might be another way to think outside the box), try writing a poem about the problem you’re working on.

Your poem doesn’t...

Michelle Obama is open to opportunities that come her way.

She put her dreams on pause so that she could support her husband's presidential objectives. These days she's co-running her production company, and pursuing life as a motivator, outside from politics.

• Political winds could change in an instant, depriving you of the most basic freedoms you take for granted. Or, no matter who you are or how safely you've lived your life, there's someone out there who would rob and kill you for a couple of dollars.
• Death is not the only unexpected i...