The Observer, February 2, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 15
A Fresh Perspective: Save time to bring back your youthful, creative side
As we mature, one thing that falls to the wayside is our use of imagination. As young children, almost everything involves the imagination. We talk to people on play phones and hold actual conversations, we have imaginary friends that never leave our sides, and new games are created all the time. But as we age, this drastically decreases. We still daydream, but not even close to the extent that we used to.
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of having my best friend from home come to stay the weekend with me. I showed her around campus, took her to Coventry and other places, but the highlight of the weekend was Saturday night.
We dined at Maxi's in Little Italy and then ventured downtown to Playhouse Square to see The Light in the Piazza. Since it is our favorite musical, we were both extraordinarily excited. After the performance, in a state of musical rapture, we were discussing our favorite moments. The conversation topic eventually turned to one of my personal favorite "what if" topics: what if life were a musical?
For a little while, my imagination went wild. I began to imagine long ballads about my love for my friends, or short peppy numbers dealing with the psychology homework that was due the next day. Every thought I had would be transformed into a melodious monologue, and conversations would become duets or even ensemble numbers. A music lover's dream come true! I even started to think of lyrics, sad as that may be.
As I was lying in bed that night, I realized something. That was the first time I had used my brain creatively for my own pleasure in a long time.
I have used my creativity plenty of times since I came to college for things like papers and projects. But, for my own pleasure? It had been quite a while. I felt so invigorated and refreshed afterwards. My experiences from the weekend allowed me to realize that even though I am an adult now, semblances of my childhood still remain.
So Case students, I challenge you. This week, when you have writer's block while writing your SAGES paper, or when you tire of your math homework, take five minutes and daydream. Let your imagination roam about freely, taking you wherever it wants to.
It will put you back in touch with your younger side, which we hide away once we get to college, never expecting it to be needed again. If nothing else, it'll get you away from your homework for a short time, and maybe alleviate your writer's block. Who knows? You may even write the lyrics to the next hit song! "Oh, how I dread class in the snow…"
Hershberger is a freshman Communication Sciences major involved with University Singers and Marching Band.
