I have sung in various choirs for over six years of my life. I love the act of singing, and I love music in general, but there is another, more specific reason as to why I have stuck with music for so long. There is a rare feeling that occurs at moments when you least expect it: when the sound of the choir swells to a new height, when the realization of the meaning behind the words you are singing sets in, when one, pure voice rings out above all the rest, soaring to the ceiling and through the very soul of every person in the room, and you realize that it is not actually a voice, but the very essence of the sound. You experience this feeling and know right away that there is nothing else quite like it. What makes it so incredibly special is that you know that every single person in the room, on stage or in the crowd, is feeling the exact same way. When the expression of art becomes a collaborative experience and everyone's senses have become intertwined, you have felt magic. Goosebumps, a pounding heart, the bright light in everyone's eyes. This is what has kept me singing.

We have been created to connect with one another. This, however, is often hindered when words fail us in the most emotionally-demanding moments. Hence the existence of art. Creativity, whatever form it comes in, is an invisible outstretched hand to humanity. It craves connection. It is an invitation to others to participate in a world that once existed solely in our hearts and in our minds. Of course, creativity can be a solitary expression as well, meant only for our own reflection. But when we offer our art to others, we offer up our soul. We become vulnerable in the moment that we say, "here, come see what has been stirring inside of me." I am learning to see the conversation that occurs when we share our art and when others enjoy it. I see the souls of individuals reach out and embrace each other in the middle of an art gallery, a packed bar, a concert hall, a poetry slam. For a brief moment, walls fall away and words become obsolete.

Hold onto the moment that occurs when someone shows you their painting, reads you their poetry, plays you their song. I invite you to find the magic that pushes us to create. Discover where the real communication lies. Feel the incredible, unique energy that radiates from both the artists and the observers. When an artist bares their soul for the world to hold, take it, and listen to what it has to say. Soon enough, you'll discover that because of art, the best conversations are not spoken, but rather felt.