I create as an outlet for myself.

Ever since I was a child I’ve had an overly active imagination. My creating, at the time writing silly songs and little stories, was a way to divert my imagination, and high energy for that matter, from telling stories, which at the time were perceived as lies, to creating stories. When I wrote I finally found a place where I was allowed to be as crazy, silly, or whatever else I wanted to be. Not only could I do whatever I wanted, but I could also be whoever I wanted, wherever I wanted. If I woke up that day and wanted to be a lion astronaut I was allowed. If I wanted to search the depths of the ocean for the mysterious squid-topuss I was allowed.

As I got older and the realities of life set in, I used my creations as a way to express myself through the transition of being who my family wanted or expected me to be, and the person I wanted to be. Being able to take awe-inspiring photographs and write incredible stories also was my escape when it seemed impossible to get my mental health under control.

I create to inspire others.

Growing up I was discouraged by many to pursue the career path I had always visioned for myself. As a child I was told I needed to get a real job—that writing isn’t a career. I needed to be a teacher or a piolet. I needed to be basically anything other than a writer. In high school, I had my heart set on photography. I was also talked out of being a photographer. I was told there’s no money in it and an underappreciated field. Later that year I decided to be a writer (again). Once more, I was talked out of being a writer. It wasn’t until I was 20 years old and finally felt free to make my own decisions that I said screw it to everyone and followed my dreams.

I create to inspire others to follow their dreams. I create to inspire others to embrace the inner weirdo in them and visit these far-off and make-believe lands as adults, just as they did when they were children.

I create for the future.

As more time passes, there is less of an emphasis on the creative classes in school. At least the schools in the United States. As a matter of fact, when I was in high school, the school dropped 6 language classes and started cutting funding to our school’s music and arts programs, both classes and extracurriculars. In the years since graduating I know that more and more programs have been cut across the country.

Now, any time someone says their child, niece/nephew, cousin, or whoever else likes to draw, paint, write, sing, or do anything creative like that I tell them to let them run with it. Sadly, there’s too much emphasis on analytics and logic, and what seems to be a strong discouragement for being imaginative or creative. Even though there will be pushback from others in the future, I create to show the next generation of writers, photographers, musicians, and artists to just do what they love.