In a world obsessed with output, productivity, and monetization, I think we’ve forgotten something fundamental: the responsibility to create for the sake of creating. Not for money. Not for validation. Not for some algorithm’s approval. But because creating is essential—it’s a responsibility we have to ourselves.

It’s easy to get caught up in the 9-to-5 grind, responsibilities, family, bills, and everything that makes up modern life. And yeah, all of that matters. But there’s another responsibility, one that’s just as crucial, yet often neglected—the responsibility to step away and create something that exists just because. A painting, a song, a sketch, a poem, a strange sculpture you put together with things you found in your kitchen drawer. Something that serves no purpose other than to fulfill a part of you that isn’t driven by external rewards.

Why We Need to Create Without a Purpose

I think this need is deeper than just a “nice-to-have.” It feels biological, something ingrained in us. Think about it—ancient humans painted on cave walls, not because they were trying to sell their art but because they had to. Creation has always been a way for humans to step outside of survival mode and engage with something bigger than themselves.

But today, everything creative gets turned into a side hustle. You bake? Sell your cakes. You write? Start a Substack. You take photos? Open an Etsy shop. Everything gets funneled into How can I make money off this? And when that happens, it stops being a sanctuary. It becomes work.

And I get it—money is necessary. We all need to make a living. But not everything we do needs to be tied to making money. Some things should just exist.

Creating as a Form of Rebellion

In a way, creating just for the sake of it feels like a rebellion. A rejection of the idea that everything we do has to be transactional. Imagine telling someone, Yeah, I spend hours painting, but I don’t sell my art, and I don’t even post it online. It almost sounds wrong, right? Like, what’s the point? But that’s exactly the point.

Making something with no expectation of return—that’s rare now. But it’s also necessary. It’s an act of reclaiming something we’ve lost: the ability to engage in something deeply, fully, without thinking about what we’ll get in return.

The Responsibility to Ourselves

I believe we owe it to ourselves to carve out time for this. To take that responsibility seriously. To create, not because we have to, but because we get to. Because it’s part of being human.

I don’t care if it’s messy, unfinished, or something you never show anyone. That’s not the point. The point is making something that exists outside of the grind, outside of expectations.

So this is your reminder: make something, just because. It doesn’t have to be good. It doesn’t have to be seen. It just has to be.