Imagination

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.

– Maya Angelou

It’s fitting that Michael Jackson’s “Will You Be There” came on as I began pondering the power of Imagination. His entire career was built on it. His mind shaped it and here we are still relying on him for inspiration, motivation, and courage. If you’ve encountered this blog or my books in the past you know how important imagination is to me. It is something undervalued yet so crucial to the human race. It’s saturated and buried by TV, news, and many other “loud” outlets.

I struggled for a while to reclaim mine. I know that imagination allows us to reshape things we fear, situations we worry about, and every day life. It allows us to look around and find beauty in an otherwise charcoal black nightmare. Within misfortunes we imaginative types discover gold. In trials we relentlessly forge for victory. Our minds are as powerful as our hearts and it is tuned into something many have lost: the will to change.

Imagination is vital.

Authors, designers, singers, producers, photographers, and most any artistic types can vouch for this: losing inspiration and lacking creativity is painful. Our imagination is how we soar, how we live and breathe. Without it a void surfaces that can grow increasingly large and daunting. Imagination is the key to innovations we all use day-to-day. It is the escape that creates the books your favorite author writes. It is the song you can’t stop singing.

Unfortunately, many people are losing their ability to “daydream” and “hope” because the times we live in have taken away a joy that used to be a standard. I’ve listened to my parents, my grandparents, their friends, and the passion they all have for their era has never truly surfaced for ours. They always say it’s “the doggone social media and cellphones” and in a way I agree. However, not for their reasons. I believe our constant “connection” has dampened our ability to connect. Also, it doesn’t help to have “CNN” on your phone constantly reminding you how tragic the world is and how cold people are.

There used to be so much mystery in the world and now it’s all laid out right in front of us. It’s always there to say, “The magic you dream of is a lie.” What do you think that does to a poet, a photographer, an actor even? What do you think that does to a child?

Don’t kill the magic. Don’t kill the wonder.

If you have nieces, nephews, young cousins, young siblings, or children of your own take away the tablets and cellphones for a while. Read to them and ask them what they imagine the characters look like. Take them on a journey where they have no choice, but to use their mind. Give them ability to learn how to invent things and become future innovators. Their imagination is what will help them reshape the world for the better.

Love Always,
Veronica ✌❤