Ten years ago, I quietly put away my sketchbooks. Life got busy—college, work, deadlines, “real life.” Drawing, once something that brought me joy, slowly faded into the background. For a long time, I barely noticed it was missing. But then one evening, after a long day, I picked up a pencil. Just to see if I still could.

That one small moment turned into something bigger: I started drawing again. And I haven’t stopped.

Here’s what brought me back—and why I think you should consider picking up your own creative hobby again, no matter how long it’s been.

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1. I Missed Creating for the Sake of Creating

In adulthood, everything seems to need a reason or an outcome. We do things to be productive, to earn, to improve. But drawing brought me back to a simple truth: not everything needs to be useful to be meaningful.

When I started drawing again, I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I wasn’t aiming for perfection. I just wanted to enjoy the feeling of pencil on paper. And that freedom? It was addictive.

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2. It Helped Me Slow Down

We live in a fast world. Scrolling, deadlines, multitasking—constant noise. Drawing forced me to focus on one thing at a time. I couldn’t rush it. I had to be present.

Even 20 minutes of sketching after work helped calm my brain. I didn’t realize how overstimulated I was until I sat in silence, with just a pencil and my thoughts.

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3. I Let Go of “Being Good”

For years, I avoided drawing because I was afraid I “lost it.” That I wasn’t as good as I used to be. That I’d disappoint myself.

But here’s the thing: art isn’t about being good. It’s about expressing something. Once I let go of expectations, the joy returned. My sketches are imperfect—and I love them for it.

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4. It Reconnected Me With My Younger Self

There’s something deeply healing about revisiting a part of you that existed before the world told you who to be. Drawing reminded me of who I was before pressure, productivity, and performance ruled everything.

It brought me back to a version of myself I missed: curious, playful, and present.

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5. It Opened the Door to New Possibilities

Since I started drawing again, I’ve felt more creative in other areas of life too. I’ve started writing more. I’ve explored design, taken up digital art, and even shared a few pieces online. Not for likes—but for connection.

When you create, you unlock something. That energy flows into other areas, often in unexpected ways.

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Thinking of Starting Again? Here’s My Advice:

• Start small. Doodle. Buy a cheap sketchbook. No pressure.
• Don’t share unless you want to. This is for you, first.
• Be patient. Like anything else, it takes time to get into the rhythm.
• Follow curiosity, not perfection. Let the process guide you.

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Final Thoughts

If you’ve let a creative hobby slip away—drawing, writing, playing music, painting—I hope this is your sign to come back to it. You don’t need to be “good” to be creative. You just need to start.

Because sometimes, what you loved at 10 years old is exactly what your adult self needs today.

Thanks for reading,