I had the privilege of watching a performance of “Finding Neverland,” and in combination with some other experiences of late, I have come to believe that magic exists in this world. Now, is it the magic of Harry Potter or some other favorite fantasy story? Maybe, maybe not. It is however the hidden world that exists within the imagination. The stories that children create filled with wonder and mystery. These wonderous details that make a grey day brighter or a scary moment more terrifying.
In a movie with Burt Reynolds many many years ago, there is a scene where he is watching these children play and commenting on how this one child is doing these things with his bicycle because he doesn’t know about gravity and physics; and how one day he will go to school and learn these things and never be able to accomplish those feats again.
I believe that as our imaginations are pushed aside and we grow into adults fa too many of us lose the ability to see the magical and fantastic that surround us and fall into a sense of dull routine because we no longer allow the imagination to override the science and need for tactile validation over just seeing and letting our mind run amok with whatever story it can come up with to fill in details.
I’m not talking about losing touch with reality and staying there. But more about allowing our adult selves to remove the fetters of being a responsible grown up and living and seeing the world as if for the first time through the senses of a wide-eyed and sponge-like child. Many a parent of toddler and pre-school age children may have an idea of what I am speaking of...when your young child discovers something small or mundane to the rest of the world, but to them it is the discovery of a lifetime. When you treat that awe and fascination as if they have indeed shown you something very new, it only builds their curiosity. So, why not do that for your own mental health and (re)discover the small and the simple and let your imagination run free.
Another movie reference here, if you have ever seen Pan’s Labyrinth, you may recall how many of the magical creatures were only visible if you allowed yourself to see them for what they were and not what they appeared to be.
So, change your perspective, let imagination play a part in your day, see the wonder and fascination in what is around you and believe in miraculous things, and maybe, just maybe, you too will become a believer in magic.
(It should be noted that this piece was started some time back, but only recently completed. Apologies for the delay, but it needed more attention than I was able to give the original kernel of an idea).
In a movie with Burt Reynolds many many years ago, there is a scene where he is watching these children play and commenting on how this one child is doing these things with his bicycle because he doesn’t know about gravity and physics; and how one day he will go to school and learn these things and never be able to accomplish those feats again.
I believe that as our imaginations are pushed aside and we grow into adults fa too many of us lose the ability to see the magical and fantastic that surround us and fall into a sense of dull routine because we no longer allow the imagination to override the science and need for tactile validation over just seeing and letting our mind run amok with whatever story it can come up with to fill in details.
I’m not talking about losing touch with reality and staying there. But more about allowing our adult selves to remove the fetters of being a responsible grown up and living and seeing the world as if for the first time through the senses of a wide-eyed and sponge-like child. Many a parent of toddler and pre-school age children may have an idea of what I am speaking of...when your young child discovers something small or mundane to the rest of the world, but to them it is the discovery of a lifetime. When you treat that awe and fascination as if they have indeed shown you something very new, it only builds their curiosity. So, why not do that for your own mental health and (re)discover the small and the simple and let your imagination run free.
Another movie reference here, if you have ever seen Pan’s Labyrinth, you may recall how many of the magical creatures were only visible if you allowed yourself to see them for what they were and not what they appeared to be.
So, change your perspective, let imagination play a part in your day, see the wonder and fascination in what is around you and believe in miraculous things, and maybe, just maybe, you too will become a believer in magic.
(It should be noted that this piece was started some time back, but only recently completed. Apologies for the delay, but it needed more attention than I was able to give the original kernel of an idea).
