When I first got into roleplaying it was purely to create characters and give them somewhere to belong. As I got older it became a way for me to get my ideas down without having to endure hand and wrist pain from drawing. 

Now I roleplay because I enjoy meeting new people and creating worlds with them. It is a lot of fun to be able to communicate ideas with someone who has a totally different outlook on things. Plus it has done wonders for my anxiety.