Since I was a child, I’ve always been fascinated by creation. I had a habit of overanalyzing things and trying to figure out how they were made, or what types of tools or machines were used in their creation. One of my earliest memories of life, as I recall, is hearing the song “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. Hearing all those layers, the different genres all mashed together, was like seeing a brand-new color for the first time. I remember asking my mom to play the song again, and thankfully, she obliged, 10 or 12 more times. I couldn’t get enough of that song. Each time I’d hear it, I would notice something new I hadn’t picked up before. I didn’t know it at the time, but this is when my love for music would be kindled. I can thank Freddy and Queen for that moment.
By Kindergarten, I was an aspiring art student, surprising my teachers with my work, and even kids in grades much higher than myself. By 2nd grade, I was playing in the school band and learning to read music. By the time I was a teenager, I was trying to get my hands on anything that involved “creating” something. Whether that was recording a song with a band, building a rocket to launch into the air, or spending 3 weeks drawing a 20-foot by 8-foot world map of a fantasy world. I was always creating something.
Nowadays, looking back on my earlier life, I realize that most of my down times concerning mental health were periods in my life where no creation was going on. I was either just working, with no hobbies, or I was experiencing a health issue, or both. Either way, it sure seems like creating things makes me happy!
If you’ve never tried before and you’re mental health could use a boost, try taking up a hobby. Trying new things converts into finding something you really love to do. Finding something that you really love to do converts into happiness.