Thank you for the interesting article. I agree that our imagination is challenged in modern times. I also, being rather old (81) feel that the issues are different for youger people than for their elders. For example, when we are young we want to learn as much as we can about the world, so the media can be useful. Of course we have to learn to differentiate the useful from the garbage, and here I was fortunate as my parents instilled in me, despite myself, a good background for this. As we get older, we are not under quite as much pressure to learn and can take time to reflect on what we already know while keeping aware of what is going on around us. But I don't think imagination is dead for many of us, and while new technology provides a challenge, I think it is too easy to condemn it. All change has positive and negative aspects, which differ for each one of us. I have, pinned on my wall, a small paper bag which I got when buying a greeting card. It came from Hallmark cards and on it is written, "Keep your heart brave and your imagination wild." And I try to do it.
Wow I really resonated with this piece! Thank you so much for sharing! I agree with you that our current world and culture is not conducive to creativity and imagination. I had not thought about freedom and restraints quite in that way, though I have had similar thoughts about how I seem to do better in less-than-ideal circumstances. It reminds me of that story about the tree - I think it's a common one? The one where all the scientists and experts of the world could not figure out why a tree was not growing - they were doing everything right! The perfect soil, watering it the right amount, perfect climate, etc. Finally, someone (not an expert) suggested that it was the perfect environment that was stunting the tree's growth. Once they introduced an imperfect condition to the tree, it started to thrive and grow. (At least that's how I remember the story going). I took away from that story that, in a way, we need to face challenges and struggle - that is the only way that we learn how to live, and the only way that we can grow as humans. If the conditions are perfect, we will be complacent, and have no motivation to change or do things differently - no need for imagination. In that way, it actually might benefit us to have some troubles in our lives, so that we may be forced to think in different ways to find innovative solutions.
This was very well written. I appreciated how this made me think critically. To answer your second question about the most common temptation for me, I would say personally it would be ease - deep down I have so much desire to make changes and live more mindfully and soulfully, but then I get tempted by the ease of following the normal path of technology and the fast-paced drone of normal adult life. It's hard for sure. It is all go-go-go, no time to stop and observe the moment we have right in front of us. Anyway, the last question - one practice that cultivates both stillness and imagination in me is taking walks in nature. I am super fortunate to live close to nature, and so sometimes I will watch the sunrise or sunset - it inspires me in terms of my writing, and also is a still and peaceful refuge :)
While my thoughts resonate with your views, I believe we should be fine will all the distractions as long as we can exercise the freedom to apply restraint. That's what I do anyway.
In terms of exercising our imagination and reflections muscles active and keeping our thinking hat on, I believe there is nothing better than making attempts at being creative. The starting point can be just writing a page daily about virtually anything. This is an action which uses almost all the tools that we need to develop.
I am grateful that I left the "idiot box" behind over 40 years ago! I could see TV turning active, inquiring minds to mushy cottage cheese. With streaming and addictive mini-series, it's worse than ever. My now 41 year-old son read "Amusing Ourselves to Death" as a college undergraduate. I recently recommended that book to a friend after a discussion of how our society seems to be programming citizens to avoid reality. Methodology is vast: Ready access to mind-altering drugs, entertainment, fear-mongering.
Keep up the good work, Alexandra!
FYI: There are a few typos that should be corrected in this recent piece.
Thank you for the interesting article. I agree that our imagination is challenged in modern times. I also, being rather old (81) feel that the issues are different for youger people than for their elders. For example, when we are young we want to learn as much as we can about the world, so the media can be useful. Of course we have to learn to differentiate the useful from the garbage, and here I was fortunate as my parents instilled in me, despite myself, a good background for this. As we get older, we are not under quite as much pressure to learn and can take time to reflect on what we already know while keeping aware of what is going on around us. But I don't think imagination is dead for many of us, and while new technology provides a challenge, I think it is too easy to condemn it. All change has positive and negative aspects, which differ for each one of us. I have, pinned on my wall, a small paper bag which I got when buying a greeting card. It came from Hallmark cards and on it is written, "Keep your heart brave and your imagination wild." And I try to do it.
To answer your 3 reflection questions:
1) most definitely YES
2) digital technology (I realize I am using it right now).
3) Getting outdoors. May be the only way I can do that. I bird watch, which helps.
Wow I really resonated with this piece! Thank you so much for sharing! I agree with you that our current world and culture is not conducive to creativity and imagination. I had not thought about freedom and restraints quite in that way, though I have had similar thoughts about how I seem to do better in less-than-ideal circumstances. It reminds me of that story about the tree - I think it's a common one? The one where all the scientists and experts of the world could not figure out why a tree was not growing - they were doing everything right! The perfect soil, watering it the right amount, perfect climate, etc. Finally, someone (not an expert) suggested that it was the perfect environment that was stunting the tree's growth. Once they introduced an imperfect condition to the tree, it started to thrive and grow. (At least that's how I remember the story going). I took away from that story that, in a way, we need to face challenges and struggle - that is the only way that we learn how to live, and the only way that we can grow as humans. If the conditions are perfect, we will be complacent, and have no motivation to change or do things differently - no need for imagination. In that way, it actually might benefit us to have some troubles in our lives, so that we may be forced to think in different ways to find innovative solutions.
This was very well written. I appreciated how this made me think critically. To answer your second question about the most common temptation for me, I would say personally it would be ease - deep down I have so much desire to make changes and live more mindfully and soulfully, but then I get tempted by the ease of following the normal path of technology and the fast-paced drone of normal adult life. It's hard for sure. It is all go-go-go, no time to stop and observe the moment we have right in front of us. Anyway, the last question - one practice that cultivates both stillness and imagination in me is taking walks in nature. I am super fortunate to live close to nature, and so sometimes I will watch the sunrise or sunset - it inspires me in terms of my writing, and also is a still and peaceful refuge :)
While my thoughts resonate with your views, I believe we should be fine will all the distractions as long as we can exercise the freedom to apply restraint. That's what I do anyway.
In terms of exercising our imagination and reflections muscles active and keeping our thinking hat on, I believe there is nothing better than making attempts at being creative. The starting point can be just writing a page daily about virtually anything. This is an action which uses almost all the tools that we need to develop.
I am grateful that I left the "idiot box" behind over 40 years ago! I could see TV turning active, inquiring minds to mushy cottage cheese. With streaming and addictive mini-series, it's worse than ever. My now 41 year-old son read "Amusing Ourselves to Death" as a college undergraduate. I recently recommended that book to a friend after a discussion of how our society seems to be programming citizens to avoid reality. Methodology is vast: Ready access to mind-altering drugs, entertainment, fear-mongering.
Keep up the good work, Alexandra!
FYI: There are a few typos that should be corrected in this recent piece.