Keeping Imagination Alive
“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it.” — J. M. Barrie, “Peter Pan”
Sometimes we forget who we were because we are told that to be mature we had to leave behind all those things that made us happy, lighter, and fun. But, maybe that doesn’t have to be the truth. Let’s explore that.
I’m not old, but I am getting older. During this time of my life lived, I have come to observe a few things. Details I have discovered on my own and some others that were pointed out to me by the more silver-haired travelers.
The one observation that seems to be discussed broadly but lacks interest in revival as we age is our imagination. In our younger years, we each seem to have this endless exploration for this activity, but we reach some milestones in our lives where imagination is less important than rooted facts; things we can hold and see directly.
From expansion and no boundaries to linear-driven ideas and spreadsheets.
I noticed my directional change started to begin at the end of my college years, then entrenched further as I began working professionally. The catalyst for this change within me was the social pressure to conform. To “fit in” so to get the job, advancements, and social nods of approval so to be invited wherever the crowd was moving next.
This transferral from an existence of light and life to dull and bland did not go without notice. But, I was willing to accept this evolution of self; believing the future benefits to come outweighed the sacrifice of self-truth.
However, in defense of this selling out — I did see the future benefits as providing a solid foundation for my future family. “Play the game so you can pay to continue playing” was what I was once told by a silver-haired traveler at the end of their game-playing journey. So, I did. I played the game, I learned the rules, and I stayed in my box.
Nutshell: I sold my self-truth so as not to starve.
Though it is important to share that while I have not starved physically, I have noticed that I am starving in a different way. The nutritional diet full of light and life which came with a healthy imagination was replaced by a dull and bland existence; leaving me empty of heart and mind.
Fortunately for me, I have a potent willpower, allowing me to ask: what could be done? Equally fortunate was that my curiosity still lived! Though I had thought this aspect of me was forever lost in the black abyss of my forgotten memories, when called upon, my curiosity lit up like a lighthouse for a boat seeking assistance back to the harbor.
Combined, I have become a mental spelunker; sifting and diving through the dusty old memories of my childhood imaginative norms, looking for ways to return. However, while on this journey, I have noticed one new thing that others might too be struggling with. That is, being an adult and re-engaging with my imagination feels awkward and embarrassing (even when in private).
If you too are looking to navigate back to your healthier and more vibrant imaginative self, I trust you will come across this mental tripwire as well. While heavy to report, it won’t go away with time; at least, it hasn’t for me. However, the best treatment is — just keep moving forward; you are on the right path.
As I have delved through previous memories of my more fun self, I have attempted to reignite that free-flowing spirit by engaging in previously remembered fun activities. Below are a few of those. If you find any that resonate with you, take them. Or, maybe they will lead you to other memories that you can then seek out and engage in your own journey. Though, most importantly — steal, steal like crazy!
• To help shoulder the responsibility of creative exploration and imagination, I have made this a two-part ownership: myself (being open) and my Muse (the provider of ideas). This has greatly helped me feel less weighted in my exploration.
• Engaging in imaginative play with my young son. (Pretend you see the imaginary enemies, friends, beasts, monsters, and heroes, too.)
• Asking odd questions and seeking answers. Like, standing in front of a mirror wondering, “Is this person in the reflection me or another me from another dimension?”
• Walking in the forest and allowing the mind and senses to explore freely.
• Deeply investigating otherwise overlooked things such as insect tunnels bored through deadwood, wondering, “How would it look if I was small enough to be in there? What would I see? How would the inside of those tunnels feel? What would I use to protect myself from the ants that live in there?”
• Searching for patterns, like faces in clouds and carpet designs.
• Getting off of social media (doom scrolling… it’s addicting, it’s dangerous — just stop it.)
• Reading plenty of books, articles on Medium, and materials that seem to be interesting to me as well as picking up a few that are topics I have no interest in at all.
• Never stop learning. Through expansive awareness, our imagination will take all that it knows and weave those new data points into a more colorful and vibrant tapestry.
• Stop watching TV, movies, and any quick videos on TikTok, Youtube, or other media visuals. They are time suckers.
• Lots and lots of exercise. A healthy mind begins with a healthy body. (I don’t have any “this works best” recommendations. Rather, just mix and match what fits or works for you. For example, walking in the forest engages the imagination in multiple ways while also making you healthy in multiple ways.)
• Journal. Always have a little book on you that you can open up, jot some ideas into, and close for another day. (Computer journaling works too, but I am paranoid about computer security, soooooo… hard pass.)
• Cold showers. (This one seems odd, but wow, does it change things in a good way.)
• Meditation; loads and loads of meditation.
There are some other practices I am testing out, but they are in the prototype phase still. When they are ready, I might make an updated post with those that I feel confident worked for me.
However, it is important to know that these are what have worked for me thus far. These may not be the best cut-and-paste for you. So, modify, disregard, or see what might be similar to something else for you.
For example, maybe your imaginative research comes from shows you watch or the movies that you melt into. Cool! That works. For me, though, it does not. But we are separate people needing separate things. Do what works for you — not what worked best for me.
Find your spark and then light the fire to guide you back along your own reinvigorated imaginary path.
In the end, I know and recognize that there are generalized boundaries set for us when we reach an age and level of adulthood. But I just don’t know why we must shed all aspects of ourselves from our childhood. Those vibrant pieces that gave us life, meaning, and happiness; sacrificed just so we could fit into the crowd.
While going forward, I will still “play the game so you can pay to continue playing,” but I will also modify how it will impact me. Instead of just being bland and pointless, I will let that be the mask I wear while on the inside, and in my private creative works, I will be my true self fully explored once more and never again sacrificed.
I hope you do, too.
Be well, my friends.
— MT
— Extras—
— Sources —
(Won’t populate… no clue why)
