Why this need?

I often wonder if we create more for ourselves or for others.  I understand the personal satisfaction from creating something, but how often is the drive to do so either for the pursuit of accolades or to connect with others who share in our experience, rather than simply the self-satisfaction of bringing the creation to life.   

  Why do we struggle for hours to create something that others will view for only seconds?  To better ourselves? To display what we've worked so hard to achieve? Should it matter if something gets only 10 views or over 10,000?  We obviously want to touch as many lives as we can... to possibly bring a little joy to each and every person who stumbles across our little contributions.   Two quotes come to mind, "The sweetest music to the musician's ear is the sound of applause" and "Happiness is only real when it's shared."

   Why this need to gather here?  For some, it's only a hobby. For others, these are the dues we pay to one day get that job we've dreamed about.  There are those who see it for the opportunities it provides... the networking, the social and business connections, and even the friendships we may find here.  And for many, it's a chance to share our lives through intimate prose or personal journals and to discover that we are not alone.  We seek to inspire and be inspired.  To share our happiness and to hope we hear the sweet music of praise someday, if we're so lucky.  To leave our mark and make our sound, hoping there are others out there somewhere in this vast forest that will hear it.

-$-