I have not written a blog entry in a while, but I just got inspired by an article on Make-Believe that my husband clipped and put on my desk. Google is my friend, so of course I ‘googled’ make believe and among the responses I got back from my query (including music bands and dancewear in Jacksonville) I got ZILCH… Seriously! Google doesn’t advocate ‘Make-Believe?’ Well, I’m not going to sit here sifting through pages and pages of non-make-believe data to find that embrace-your-inner-child moment. So…Defining ‘Make-Believe’
Make-believe to me is using ones imagination to create, so we look at ‘imagination’ to help us in the use of ‘Make-believe.’ Using ones imagination or creating a ‘Make-Believe’ scenario is a creative or artistic expression where we use our minds to create in a freer/less-restraining environment. However, societal norms, conventions, and morays do limit most of the outward use of imagination so as not to appear non-conformist or even mentally unstable.Albert Einstein said, "Imagination ... is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited and the imagination encircles the world."
Woah, what happened?! I was thinking of writing a light-hearted piece on make-believe or using ones imagination and I ended up down this cerebral path that’s positively KILLING my original inspiration!!! So back on track.
Jani Taylor’s piece "About Make-Believe" speaks to me because she remind us of the need for those precious moments when we get to escape the mundane, serious world (often with our children) and fuel our imaginations. As Ms. Taylor states,
“the world of make believe isn’t so much about escape as about renewal and healing.”I agree wholeheartedly with this statement, and I believe that in a world that is often too serious and often violent adults need heal from the world of adulthood that does take its toll on our hearts, minds, and even our souls. Many (myself included) seek moments of escape wherever our interests take us.
How to Practice Make-Believe Moments
The easiest way to have those wonderful childlike, healing moments is in the company of a child. If you are lucky enough to be able to occasionally embrace yourself in a world where time stands still and you engage a different part of yourself, the results are glorious and a balm. At first you might have a sobering pause when you get off that swing in the playground and the reality that you hadn’t done that in years hits you. On a personal note, becoming a parent or grandparent also provides us with opportunities to tune our perspective and experience life through the eyes of a child. -A feel good movie
-Put on a puppet show
-Sing Christmas songs anytime you want (Summer too)
-Sing like a rock star (shower or car)
-Enjoy your Christmas tree 365 days of the year
-Silly moments with friends or loved ones (charades anyone?)
-Reading or playing with a child
-Coloring (VERY therapeutic)
-Reading any work of fiction that fires the imagination
-Writing stories (or a blog…ha, ha, ha)
The possibilities are endless. Just good clean fun, and an opportunity to embrace our inner child. Go play!
Postscript: Hubby and I have been writing a children's trilogy together, and hope someday to have it published.
