Recently, I’ve noticed how much I value silence. Not just quiet moments, but intentional silence. The kind I seek out on purpose. Noise-canceling headphones. A corner seat in a café. Painting when the world around me settles. Silence has become the place where my creativity feels strongest.

Is AI making us lazy? Is it “cheating”? I don’t buy it. Tools don’t erase taste, judgment, or originality. They don’t give you a point of view. They don’t decide when to push, when to break a rule, or when to leave white space on purpose. People do.