Right now, probably the last thing I want to be doing is this. I've got things I have to do, places I need to go, people I have to reach out to, and the list goes on and on. Needless to say, taking the time to write, and not getting paid for it, is not at the top of my list at the moment as you can imagine.

Why am I doing this you may ask? Well, to be honest, I basically was told I had to but it's more than just that. I made a commitment to the Odyssey and those involved that I would create content every week. Although I'm mostly doing this to please them, a part of me knows this is for me too.

In this crazy world we live in, it's not often that I get the time to sit down and just focus on one thing and express myself creatively. Not thinking about what someone said yesterday that's pissing me off, or worrying about tomorrow. I'm simply being exactly where I am, and in that state of being, producing a work of art, and being creative.

Having a creative outlet is imperative to my well-being, as I'm sure it is for everyone else as well. I honestly feel so much better than I did when I wrote the title of this piece. Not saying I'm going to be thrilled next week when I have to cram in another article, but in this moment, I'm having fun with it, and love the freedom I have to share my thoughts and words with the world.

A creative outlet does not have to look like a piece of art. I believe creativity can be anything that you produce from nothing, with intention. To put it simply, you consciously create something that did not exist before.

Often times, doing that is not a priority, and we tend to stick to our same routine, even if that routine isn't pleasing to us. I encourage you to set aside time to be creative in whatever way that means to you. Draw, write, yoga, sing, whatever it may be, do it for you, even if you don't want to.

That last paragraph probably would have been an ideal place to end, but I just need a little bit more to get close to 500 words. I may not have the time to make this piece, or any of my articles for that matter, as good as I would like, but I'm still doing it. Not just for The Odyssey, or for anyone reading, but for me.

If you can't help yourself, you can't help anyone else. Having a creative outlet helps relieve stress and allows you to be a better version of yourself. So do what you can, and f@!#$ the rest. It doesn't have to be perfect. This article is a perfect example of that.