Anna M. Stratulat

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much we take in every single day — information, opinions, trends, content, noise. We scroll through perfect pictures, catchy reels, and endless advice on who to be, how to feel, what to want. And somehow, even with all of that, we end up feeling emptier.

It’s like we’re constantly plugged in, but rarely connected.

The truth is, consuming is easy. It doesn’t ask much of us. We don’t have to show up fully, we don’t have to risk anything. But creating? That’s something else. Creating asks us to slow down, to listen to ourselves, to be present — and sometimes to be brave.

It doesn’t mean you have to write a book or start a business or be some kind of artist. Creating can look like making a meal with love, writing a few words that mean something to you, taking a picture that captures a moment, or simply choosing to express yourself in a way that feels honest.

To create is to give a piece of yourself to the world — not for approval, not for applause, but because you can. Because you’re here.

And I think that matters.

We weren’t made just to absorb what others say or do. We were made to leave a mark, even a small one. To build, to imagine, to contribute, even if it’s imperfect. Especially if it’s imperfect.

So here’s a gentle reminder, for you and for me:

Consume less. Create more.

Make space for your thoughts, your voice, your ideas.

Not everything you create has to be shared — but everything you create will shape you.

And that’s the most important part.