Looking back, it’s difficult to believe that this blog is now on its fifty-sixth post. A lot of small ideas have come and gone, and I’ve certainly found quite a bit of amusement in doing it. And I think there will be a good many posts to come. On the surface, it seems a bit like work writing these posts…but of course it isn’t. It’s fun, and energizing, and represents a lot of things that I can’t seem to find anywhere else.

It’s creativity.

I have to come to realize that more than anything, I enjoy the simple art of creating things. There’s nothing more exciting than turning a blank page into something vibrant with life–something that simply did not exist in this world before. (Of course, my parents had similar thoughts when they created me, and it’s hard to say whether or not they knew what they were getting into.) But there’s definitely a common theme when you look at a lot of the things that I enjoy:

• When I play the piano, I often add notes, rhythms, or chords to the music on the page.  On many other occasions, I simply make things up–the song of that particular moment being lost to the wind when I am done.  In a few rare moments of dedication, I’ve actually captured songs and synthesized them through the computer, and I always get joy out of hearing them again.  It’s simply a fun process to go through.
• My first loves in the world of potential careers were web design and architecture, both heavily revolving around the construction of new things.  Architecture always felt a little too far out of reach, but I think I will always have one eye on web design.  There’s something very attractive in the idea of building something that people will use, or walk through, or will be thankful for as a step along their journey.
• My favorite games to play are always the most creative ones.  That’s why I was somewhat swept away by the game World of Warcraft , because it is the ultimate creative experience:  you create a character, give him or her a name, and breathe life into a world that did not exist before.  It’s almost like writing a movie script in a live environment, and there are some amazingly creative people to interact with.  It’s probably worth a post of its own to explain a bit better, because yes, I realize the face you’re making right now.  More on this later, then.
• I enjoy humor greatly, and some of the most fun times I can ever remember are groups of friends making jokes and laughing together.  Part of it is the humor itself, of course, but an equally amazing part is the creative aspect of it:  in those situations, no one knows what another will say next.  It’s a comedic free-for-all, and it’s hilarious to hear what friends come up with in the spur of the moment.
• And then, of course, there is creative writing itself:  this blog, for example.  I hope that you enjoy it half as much as I enjoy writing it.  Life always has its ups and downs, but I think there is always a certain level of happiness obtained from sharing things with another–whether it’s a blog, or a good movie, or a game-winning touchdown, or throwing your gap at graduation.

Noting all of these things, it’s difficult to believe that many of you would not share the same sentiment, given the right circumstances.  So as you push your way through the day to day grind, always try to take a moment to stop reacting and start acting.   Find something that you can create to make a difference, even if it only makes a difference to you.

And in the process, you just might start opening the eyes of others, as well.