I think it's astounding how 26 letters have been strung together to create over a million words in the English language.

Ever since I was a kid, words have always fascinated me. All it takes is a letter. One letter to tweak the entire definition of a word by just a nuance. One letter to change the tense, the meaning, the connotation. A single letter holds all the power in the world. It's quite fascinating, really.

I've been writing for as long as I can remember, and I cannot recall a single time I have ever regretted putting a pen down on paper and letting my passion take over my hand. To write is to escape the rush of your world and fall into a realm of imagination and creativity, all personalized to your own liking. No one can quite describe what is in your mind like you can.

Don't get me wrong; as I've grown older, there were times when I've hated words, hated their power, hated their ability to so perfectly encompass my emotions and delve deeper into my soul than my thoughts could. The hatred stemmed from the fear. As human beings, we are afraid to see our innermost sentiments, afraid of the possibility of a flaw that could be buried under the surface. Fear holds us back. But when it comes to writing, even the momentary fear and hatred I felt for words couldn't stopp me from using them. They reveal the truth in such a beautiful, tragically destructive way. The rush is indescribable.

Markus Zusak encompasses my attitude towards words best in his novel "The Book Thief", saying, “I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right." I have used words to describe the worst moments of my life, and to this day, I cannot stand to even read the pages that reflect my weakest moments. Put simply, I hate them. I hate the memories those words describe, because I fear them and my own vulnerability. But I have not allowed those moments to make me weak. By writing them down, I have grown from those moments. I have strengthened myself, and for that, I love writing.

Not everything in the world of writing is bad, though. I've used words to encapsulate my best and most favorite memories too. Rereading these moments takes me back in time to relive them, reviving the happiness, excitement, and love I back then. Those writings give me nostalgia, but the good kind—the kind of nostalgia you get when you're curled up by a window on a rainy day, snuggled in a blanket, holding a mug of coffee close to your body, reminiscing moments that just fly into your head rather than forcing yourself to think. Writing comes naturally, and that is what I adore.

I love writing because it helps me not only discover my desires, concerns and feelings, but also express them. From poetry to narration to journaling, writing is my escape. I can paint heaven and destruction, kingdoms and slums, humans and beasts, with just a toolbox full of words. It captures moments that would flutter away from your memory, acting more like a photo rather than an essay. Words effortlessly flow together in a stream, storing the best and the worst, the ups and the downs. Writing gives you time to think about what you want to say, which is an ability that is not usually available when you speak. The air between you and the people you speak to is empty. But holding the journal of another person, tracing the pages where their fingers once lingered, glimpsing into their mind and seeing their thoughts with accents of your own imagination... That's beauty. Writing symbolizes the true concept of human cooperation. We build on each other's works with our own little modifications to create something not short of a masterpiece. None of the imagery we see in our heads after reading a piece is the same as the person sitting next to us. But sharing these views can open our minds, allowing us to grow open to possibilities we could have never imagined before. Words are the true human genius. They are entirely manmade, completely unnatural to the world, but just as capable of splendor as Mother Nature herself.

Words rule our world. They should be used to better ourselves and the world around us. We can use them to create extreme good or extreme bad, and for that, words should be some of the most respected inventions that humankind has ever made. They expose the core of our humanity and force us to face truths we would otherwise ignore. You can't fix a problem you refuse to address. Words allow the flaws of humanity to scream, "Look at me. I'm the problem. I caused these complications. I am the one you fear. Now fix me." There are many mistakes humans have made, many things that are utterly despicable in society, but the existence of words is one of the biggest blessings we humans have been given.

Use words. But use them right. Use them to grow, to fix, to help. But don't use them to harm. After all, with great power comes great responsibility. And now, that responsibility lies with us. With you.