Our imagination has an extremely interesting way of transforming simple objects in our environment into fantastical elements that appear in the fabric of our dreams. During our childhood, our imagination has the amazing power to create characters and build intricate plotlines simply for the sake of our amusement. As we grow up, however, some of our creativity fades away in order to accommodate the mundane nature of life. Yet, there are still some things that spark the appearance of whimsical images. For instance, a glance at a large, fluffy cloud instantly produces images of celestial castles and playgrounds. The sight of a rainbow brings thoughts of a magical pot of gold at its end.
The unlimited creativity that we seem to have during our childhood and youth can also become a useful tool as we begin to shoulder the responsibilities of adulthood. Each new phase of life becomes infinitely more exciting because we have the ability to imagine the manifestation of thrilling scenarios and opportunities even before we enter into those periods. Our imagination gives us the hope and strength to believe that each new day will be better than the one that we are currently experiencing. However, our very imagination can also create obstacles for us.
One of the first things that we learn about life is that it never takes place as we hope or expect that it will. For instance, I recently discovered that clouds are not truly as innocuous and dream-like as they may seem. Since clouds are made up of water, a single cloud can weigh over a million pounds. This fact is quite surprising by itself. However, the weight of clouds can also lead to the harm of large numbers of people in a phenomenon called a cloudburst. Several thousand liters of water can be released all at once, causing dangerous levels of destruction.
Who could have imagined that the fluffy clouds which fuel our imagination are truly so dangerous?
As we enter adulthood, we are likely to have many expectations about what our life is going to be. Expectations can give life meaning, but they can also quickly turn into a vehicle that leads us to disappointment. Careers or lifestyles that may have seemed glamorous and dreamy will, like the clouds, have their own set of dangers, downsides and obstacles that were initially hidden.
This discovery of the negative side of our careers or lifestyles may not always mean that we have made the wrong choice. Instead, it is simply a chance to truly weigh the impact of our choices and make a decision that we can be comfortable with throughout our lives.
Life is not meant to be perfect. In fact, it will almost never turn out the same way that we dream of during our childhood. However, this fact is what makes life much more beautiful and our success more valuable. Let us continue to dream about castles in the clouds, but let us also be prepared for the moment when they burst into droplets of rain.
