Shout out to all of my fellow photographers, painters, drawers, musicians, writers, lovers of arts and crafts - my people who understand the necessity behind creativity. I love you guys.

Now I can't speak for the entirety of humanity but for the majority, everybody has a creative outlet. Everybody has at least somewhere in their life that they let out the things words can't, where they scratch that itch of creativity. Whether you paint beautiful still life's with acute attention to detail or doodle to the side of your notes, oh how satisfying of a feeling it is to have created something out of nothing! I truly believe it is cleansing to the soul. Not to mention, at least in my opinion, creating allows you to express particular thoughts and feelings that you can't quite express otherwise, which is monumentally beneficial to your mental health. I cannot tell you how many times either I or observed that a friend was stressed or anxious and the remedial affects drawing, painting, writing a song, etc. had on them or myself. It clears the mind to be able to suppress all other worries and focus on a creation. Heck, you may even be able to channel your worries into the creation, art is where you can let it all out!

I also think art serves as a sort of universal language as well. Sometimes I can look at painting or hear a score of music and am able to decipher exactly what kind of emotions the creator was trying to portray upon its creation. Do you ever listen to a song and you connect with it so deeply it gives you goose bumps? I absolutely love that feeling. There's this fundamental connection happening behind the scenes and man...is it a beautiful thing. I could actually just write a whole other article on music alone, but you get the point.

Seeing people's creations and their completely original handy work is one of my favorite things; and also why I much prefer hand made gifts over store bought ones. You could bring me a rock with string glued over all of it, if you put the time and effort into making it because you thought I would like it, I'll LOVE IT!

Oh and often times I think it goes unrealized that we go to school until we're about 18 where information is shoved down our throats only to be memorized and regurgitated and then we go to our 9-5 jobs to become standard participating members of society. Whereas creativity is our way of breaking the mold society so forcefully tries to cram us into. Not to mention it's a great way to separate yourself from your competitors in the business world.

So next time you're feeling stressed or just want to get ahead in life, make something. Anything.

"Think left and think right, think low and think high. Oh the thinks you can think up if you only try!" - Dr. Seuss