You've got something to share with the world.

But they won't listen.

You've got a story to tell.

But they won't hear it.

You want to sing, write, dance, draw, sketch, paint, play, design, sculpt, and photograph your way through life.

But they won't care.

You're tired of the "Oh, that's a nice song." "That's a neat picture." "That's a cool drawing."

Because you want more. You always wanted more. You will always want more.

You are both incredibly selfish and incredibly selfless all at once. You want to change the world with a story, but only if it's your story.

You hate it when your story is compared to the story of other people. You don't want to be a knock-off. You hate it when people say, "You sound like _______", or "Your paintings remind me of ________". Because you're selfish.

But you love seeing the joy in others because of art. You don't want recognition for yourself, but recognition of a bigger story, whatever it may be. You want to stand up on stage and hear people singing your song back to you because maybe, just maybe, it'll bring them hope. That's what you live for - telling a story for the sake of other people. Because you're selfless.

Maybe you love deeply, and, yes, hate deeply. People don't understand how you can feel such a wide range of emotions, but hey, neither do you. Or, maybe you're numb to feeling. People don't understand how you can feel such a small range of emotion, but hey, neither do you.

Maybe you want to travel the world. Or, maybe you want to stay at home.

Maybe you're extroverted, maybe you're introverted.

Artists come in all shapes and sizes.

You want to buy that new camera, keyboard, or canvas. "If I just had this." "If I just had that." "If I could only...". But you know that you have to prioritize your spending better. Then, you buy that new camera, keyboard, or canvas anyway. Because you're impulsive.

You're up late (sometimes intentionally, sometimes not), songs, pictures, dreams, all running through your head. Sometimes, you're too worn down to sleep. Sometimes, you're too excited to sleep.

You want to be loved. You want your friends to. You want your parents to. You want your significant other to.

But you know that artists often make for bad friends, kids, or life partners.

So, you'll gladly throw it all away for them.

Or, you'll hide yourself in your art and shut others out.

At the end of the day, though, you just want to tell a story.

I know because I'm like you.

We're all a bunch of starving artists, trying to tell a story.