Recently I have changed my major to communications journalism, which has had me reflecting on the reasons why I ever started writing in the first place, and honestly I didn't even realize the impact that writing has personally made in my life. For me, writing is my escape. I have my own personal journal that I can release myself in. Journals are extremely important in my opinion because it is like a newly developed world that you can make all your own. No one is going to read your journal (unless your parents are snoopers), so you are able to say all of the things you can't say out loud. Sometimes I even draw in my journal when I just can't find enough words to express what I am feeling in the moment. I feel like any type of writing can be beneficial to any human, and I know I found the most benefits out of writing during the hardest parts of my life.

When I was about nine years old my parents decided to separate, which was devastating and confusing for me being such a young girl. I did not know how heavy divorce could hit a family until I personally experienced going through one. For most of the time I felt very misunderstood by my family members, which is not anyone's fault, but I needed to find a place where I could release all of the negative energy that I was keeping bottled up inside. I remember the night I first picked up a pen and paper and let it all out. I was more than frustrated with the chaos and mixed emotions in my house, and I lost it. I went in my room and threw all my toys around and stomped around my room like the child I was. It was like no matter what I said or did no one could ever understand what I was going through in that moment in time, so I opened this blank journal I had sitting around. I picked up a pen and let all of the negativity flow out of me and onto the page. I ended up writing almost three pages that I still have to this day. It was like writing was the comfort I needed. It broke through my thick walls of anger and got me to a vulnerable place. I remember crying for a couple minutes while writing, but by the end all of my tears were dried up and a weight was taken off of my shoulders. That was the sweetest relief I have ever felt. From then on I had a source to turn to when life would have me defeated, and the best part was that no one could take this away from me. Writing has definitely been my savior on my toughest of days and for that, I am forever grateful.

I wanted to write about how important writing was to me, not to persuade people to write more, but to share how important it is to have an outlet in life. Some people go to the gym or paint as their release. There are an abundant amount of ways in this world to find that escape that everyone needs sometimes. I am lucky to have found mine at such an early age in life because it can be difficult to find that in life. I hope this article has inspired at least someone to get out there and try something new, or just take some alone time to figure out what you need more of in your life. I believe we should live selfishly to an extent, and we all need to figure out that thing that helps us maintain a healthy, happy lifestyle.