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Revisiting Childhood Dreams: The Magic of Imagination

Writer's picture: Paula VMPaula VM


Can you recall your childhood dreams? What were they, and how did they shape the way you saw the world? Those memories, dreams, hopes, and wishes are powerful. Believe it or not, they continue to influence your day-to-day experiences well into adulthood, often without you even realizing it. It’s the magic of childhood whimsy—the world seen through the eyes of a child, full of playful visions, boundless creativity, and freedom from limitations.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to view life through that lens again, even just for a moment? Guess what—you do! But more often than not, we quickly dismiss those fleeting thoughts as "silly" or "impractical." Let’s pause before we let them go and instead embrace them. Think back to the thoughts and activities that captured your imagination as a child. Did you love make-believe, music, dance, or the feeling of running barefoot through the grass? Maybe, like me, you were lost in books.

I devoured anything I could get my hands on—books, magazines, you name it. I spent countless hours in the library, sometimes reading things far beyond my years. Looking back, I flourished in the world of my imagination. It fueled my creativity and curiosity. Now, I’m not suggesting handing children books like Fifty Shades of Grey! But I do encourage reading, especially the classics, to all the children in my life.

I remember asking a librarian the meaning of a word, and she handed me a dictionary instead of an answer. She suggested I write down all the words I didn’t know, look them up, and keep the list with me to better understand the story. That moment was a revelation—Eureka! I wish I could remember the exact word or book because it changed everything. I was seven when I started reading C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, and those books gifted me a world of vibrant wonder and joy.

Not long after, I picked up Wuthering Heights simply because the letters looked "beautiful" to me—a strange reason, but I was an extremely visual child. I read it with a dictionary by my side and soon started acting out dramatic scenes, using the language of the characters. My mother was less than amused!

Books like these fed my daydreams. I imagined lives and places I knew nothing about, like living on a farm or in a dreary castle. For years, I would try to order Turkish delight because of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. People were perplexed, and my mom would roll her eyes.

One of my most vivid memories was waking up early, before the sun, and watching the light slowly spill across the grass like a golden thread. I would imagine I was on a farm, up before dawn to tend to animals, with bare feet on dewy grass, a white farmhouse in the distance. I could see the roosters, hear the pigs, and picture flowers in a white jar on the windowsill above the kitchen sink.

Many years later, while driving through Pennsylvania, I stumbled upon a farmhouse that matched the one in my daydreams. As soon as I saw it, the memory flooded back, and I knew I had to capture it in a photo. That image holds so much meaning for me—a snapshot of the dreams and fantasies that carried me through childhood and continue to inspire me today.

As adults, we often forget to indulge in these simple daydreams and creative escapes. Yet, they are essential to fueling our spirits. We need to lose ourselves in books, daydreams, or anything that brings us unadulterated joy. These moments fill our tanks and give us the energy to keep moving forward.

So, pour yourself a cup of tea, grab a journal, and take a moment before the sun rises. Get lost in those childhood memories and pleasures, and notice how they still weave their way into your life today.


With nostalgia and imagination, Paula VM

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