I write to document important stories for younger generations.

I write to express the thoughts and feelings that live deep within my soul.

I write to educate those around me in order to help make a difference in the world, as small as it may be.

I write to bring joy to others so that their lives can shine just a little bit brighter.

I write to encourage myself and to push myself to be the best human being I can be.

I write to experience the emotions that some people may not even want or dare to feel.

That moment the pen hits the paper is the moment that everything sinks out of me. Every thought, feeling, frustration and ounce of love are absorbed onto the pages of the journal. In no time, I'm free. Everything is gone from my mind, set in stone on the thin paper sitting before my eyes. It is as if I suddenly have a fresh start, a new day. Nothing can beat that feeling.

In truth, this article acts as my own personal journal entry. And why, you may wonder, did I not just write it in my journal? Because I want you to read this. I want you to understand how writing, something so simple and pure, can bring so much joy to a person like me.

It isn't just a hobby, it's a part of my life, and an important part for that matter. Without it, I wouldn't be me. My creativity wouldn't be able to escape through my fingertips with each newly written word that graces the surface. I wouldn't be the same person.

The concept of documenting my life on paper brings out a contagious form of encouragement. Writing encourages me to try to live my life so that it is not only valuable to me, but also to those around me.

I do this in such a way that others would want to read about my life adventures and lessons I have learned along the way. I am not perfect and my life is not always as interesting as I wish I could make it seem. But for the time being, I feel as though it is enough.

Writing about myself, at times, seems selfish. Should I be writing about those in need? Or those who can't speak for themselves? Yes, I should, and I do. But just not always. Sometimes I need to write for myself, especially to help feel the things that I have trouble processing in my mind. I write to make sense of everything around me.

I like to think that each day I live, a story from it is worthwhile to be told and read. I do not always achieve this, but it is the end-goal for each day. Benjamin Franklin once said, "Either write something worth reading, or do something worth writing." In this lifetime, I plan on doing both.