I was put on this world to be creative. As a kid, my primary objective was inventing imaginary worlds and coloring outside the lines. I wrote awesome stories with fire breathing dragons, six headed ogres and bad ass wizards. I had an imagination that turned four G.I. Joes and a bathtub into an eight-hour playtime session.

But somewhere along the way I lost that imagination. Somewhere in between the gold stars and scantrons and the fear of adulthood, I stopped dreaming and writing stories. Somewhere in between course requirements in high school and four years of debauchery at UCSB, I became a follower. The law major I opted for was a safe move, devoid of passion. I avoided fear, gave up on art and settled for average.

One night after I got home from work, I found myself standing in front of my mirror with an awful suit from the clearance rack at Men’s Wearhouse, sporting dress shoes from Target and a necktie that looked like it was put on by a six year old. What was I doing? This was not me. Where the hell did I go wrong?

Even now, I don’t know exactly what it was that night. Maybe it was my inner self coming out of hiding. Maybe I had hit “the quarter life crisis” rock bottom, I don’t know. But there I sat, looking at reports from my job, miserable, upset, tired and freakin’ pissed off.

And then it happened. I shoved everything off my desk and I pulled out a pad of paper and started writing - first on a notepad, then on the computer.

I powered deep into the night, shooting through page after page until my fingers cramped. I wasn’t writing for a job, or an assignment in school, but for me. I have always referred to that day as my creative renaissance.

Three years after that night, I quit my job, started a publishing company, produced a music video, published my first book and I’m currently working on my second one. These days, I find myself living with purpose. I have three-month goals, one-year goals and ten year goals.

I’m not naive to think that everything I create will be great, but everyday I take steps to hone my craft and give my art back to the world.

Inside everyone is a talent, a gift, a passion, something that motivates us above meritocracy. It is our duty to give this gift back to the world. Sometimes, this passion can stay dormant for a long time, but eventually it will come up and show its true colors. Hopefully, you’ll be ready to grab it.