Here we are, trapped in the amber of the moment. There is no why.
How complicated and unpredictable the machinery of life really is.
You are better than you think.
We could have saved the earth, but we were too damned cheap.
When I used to teach creative writing, I would tell the students to make their characters want something right away - even if it's only a glass of water. Characters paralyzed by the meaninglessness of modern life still have to drink water from time to time.
There were creative-writin g teachers long before there were creative-writin g courses, and they were called and continue to be called editors.