Dear friends,

When someone asks me why I've chosen the path of a writer, my response is something in which I heard many years ago—an Asian fable that goes something like this:

A man dies upon the day in which you are reading this. When he goes to the next phase of life, he’s confused because nothing around him is what he imagined. God knows the man is startled and comforts him. God tells the man that his plan is to send the him back to Earth as a 16th-century peasant. As time goes forward, the man becomes even more confused. God tells the man that he must lead many lives, so he understands what it’s like to be other people. Then, when the time is right, the man may pass on to a place of rest and happiness.

While this wasn’t the tradition in which I was raised, I’ve found a lot of truth in this tale. To learn about life and be at peace, we must wear many metaphorical hats.

With this in mind, I don’t feel Odyssey is right for me anymore. I’m an explorer. I believe there’s meaning in the universe and a higher power. I've cheated death, and I won’t take life for granted.

If I don’t stand up for my principles and my own well-being, I’ll fail in my responsibilities. My struggle would, therefore, be meaningless.

I'm not picking up a pen to make money, and so much of the Odyssey platform is based upon how many views you get.

I’ve written many things that mean a lot to me, and I've made wonderful friends and connections. I’ve developed an amazing support system through my fellow writers and people who’ve been moved enough to read my pieces and reach out to me to tell me what it meant to them. That is by far the greatest gift I could ever receive!

For a long time, I was angry with the universe; I was angry with God for possibly putting me in a position where I couldn't do everything I wanted to do or have everything I wanted to have. But, simultaneously, I was indebted to him because I felt like I owed the universe something.

Before coming to SNHU, I was going to school to be a therapist. I wanted to help people who needed me. That was my entire life, and I was literally the person who’d give you the shirt off my back. I felt the need to fight my every impulse and live my life as if my soul existence was to benefit others. However, I suffered from depression, which I never talked about with anyone because I didn't have inner peace. Eventually, constantly putting others before myself led me down the wrong path. I tried to find peace at the bottom of a bottle and a smoke-filled room. I spent my nights with people who were just as broken as I was.

With time, I learned from the mistakes I made. I learned not to drown myself in sorrow like some people. I lifted my eyes up from the ashes like a phoenix. I'm a fighter at heart. If I don’t feel my principles are being respected, or feel I’m given a full opportunity to succeed, I must make a change. Writing isn’t about money and isn’t about success. Very few people in this world get to become as successful as J.K. Rowling, and that's totally fine.

The happiest day of my life was when someone was moved by my writing, and we forged a bond. I was right: my purpose in this world is to help people. I want to make someone's life better, and I’ll continue to do so. I intend to be a force for good (and of course for hope), and I won’t spend the time I have on this planet filling another person's pockets. I don't enjoy shiny happy things. I'd rather put a real smile on someone's face. You can continue to enjoy your cat videos and nonsense articles about what every girl loves about summer fashion.

I'm an artist damn it.

I wrote you a letter and maybe someday you'll write one to me.

Warmest regards,

Keely Christine Messino