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BY MARIA GARRIDO - 4 MINUTE READ
Reconnect with your dreams and let your imagination guide you through life's challenges.
THE DRAMA OF IT ALL
When I was in my early 20's, I experienced one of those gut-wrenching heartbreaks that leaves a young girl wallowing in the drama of it all. You know, the kind where your tender inexperienced heart thinks you've lost the only prince charming you'll ever meet, it's the end of the world, you'll never know true love again so you cry and cry and cry....more over the shock than the boy! 😉
It makes me laugh today to think of the heartbreak frenzy l stirred myself into at that age. But listen to any young female artist like Olivia Rodrigo or the millions of Swifties belt out "Bad Blood" and you'll sympathize with the drama of my (or your own!) younger years.
THE GREAT ESCAPE
At the time, I swore off men forever. To protect myself from future heartbreaks, I did what any incredibly creative and conflict-averse young person would do, I escaped into a fantasy world of my own creation.
I pictured myself in a perfect future existence where my life was amazing- at least by the standards of a 20 yr old ambitious college student in the early 90's. I saw myself as a future successful and fiercely independent career woman, of course. But that wasn't enough for my wild imagination. To render the dream more tangible, I had to add plenty of bells and whistles!
As a product of Gen X, I was keen on prioritizing career success and wanted nothing more than to excel. At the time, the show thirtysomething was popular on television so my generational context and that tv show became my reference; I conjured up a dream of a yuppy middle-aged life with lots of material success. My proudly single future life came with an adorable westie as my loyal companion, a convertible navy 325 BMW to whisk away to weekends on the coast and a cello (!) because no self-respecting multitalented woman would be complete without the ability to play classical heartwrenching music as her life's soundtrack!
I needed a good setting for this highly colorful life so a walk-up brownstone in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston became my imaginary home.
Don't even ask why I chose Boston!? I hadn't grown up there and didn't know much about the city. I'd visited a college friend once and had strolled through the Beacon Hill neighborhood. At the time, I found it so charming that I purchased a pretty watercolor sketch of a brownstone in Beacon Hill. The picture hung in my room for years. It felt pretty yuppie-ish to me then so that made for a perfectly pleasant backdrop to my imaginary future and fiercely independent and successful life.
You might think I'm making this all up but to make sure this became a self-fulfilling prophecy I wrote it all down in tremendous detail and embarrassingly still have the journal entries to prove it 30 years later 😀.
EXERCISING THE IMAGINATION MUSCLE
It's funny how I let my imagination run wild like that but in hindsight, I know it was a coping mechanism. Escaping into your own imagination is an incredibly entertaining and effective way to move through life's challenges. After all, what are people seeking when they go to the movies or read a novel? A few moments of escape from their own realities.
It's actually not that crazy after all. Using your imagination, play or any form of creative outlet has the power to improve your wellbeing. Creative thinking can distract from stressors, providing mental relief and reducing the body's stress response. Imagining positive outcomes or engaging in creative activities can boost mood and build emotional resilience. In essence, your imagination can help you cope better with adversity.
Working out the details of my imaginary life in Boston and projecting myself into a happier moment actually helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel. If you can see positive ahead, you can manifest it into reality.
IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY
I'm beginning to suspect that wild imaginations may be genetic as one of my young adult boys is often lost in his own dreams like I was at his age. Sometimes he disappears into his room for hours and writes long stories full of fantasy worlds and imaginary characters. The difference is that while I reached for an imaginary cello, he actually is a classically-trained musician and composes the soundtracks to his stories on piano and he's very good! Have a listen here. It makes my mama heart proud. ❤️
But I digress....
A BLAST FROM THE PAST
Last month, thirty years on, I found myself back in Boston to cheer on a woman I've been mentoring as she graduated from a leadership program at Harvard. When the gathering was over and the celebrations quieted down, I could no longer ignore the little voice in my head, calling me back to Beacon Hill for a stroll through my imagination.
So on that sunny Saturday morning, I left my hotel, crossed the Boston Common, and made my way to Beacon Hill for memory's sake...sort of.
As I wandered through the tree-lined streets of this beautiful neighborhood, I took it all in, the cobblestone pathways, the charming homes and perfectly manicured gardens, the blooming roses and the gorgeous doors that seemed to welcome me in, all of it a gentle reminder of the importance of dreams at any age. I sat for a while in the still ever-so-charming Louisburg square among the historic homes and had myself a little moment of gratitude, a mindful recognition of just how far I've come since that watercolor brownstone picture and a bittersweet reminder that life, for any of us, can surpass even our wildest dreams.
TAKING STOCK
Thirty years later, I clearly did not end up in a brownstone in Boston. I do have a dog- just not a westie. I have never owned a BMW but have had several Volvos (couldn't completely rid myself of 90's yuppie nostalgia!🤣) and I'm proud to say I have been professionally successful. I am also fiercely independent, even if the road to get here has been full of detours and unexpected traffic jams.
In retrospect, though, my wildest dreams were not a very accurate reflection of where I've landed. My crazy imagination could not envision that my life thus far would be so much richer and blessed than I could have imagined- and I don't mean by yuppie materialistic standards!
I consider myself successful because of the experiences I've had, the ever present laughter in my life, the respect of those I love, the kindness I receive and the three boys I'm so proud of. Every week, I experience little luxuries: the freedom to choose my own path, a good conversation with a friend or two, long walks in the forest and the joy of unleashing my culinary creativity as I whip up a fabulous meal with my favourite tunes blasting in the background. These things and so much more have made my life wealthy beyond measure.
💖
SELF CARE TIP
Dreams have no expiration date. If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. Take a moment to reconnect with your dreams and let your imagination guide you through life's challenges. Visualize your goals and find comfort in knowing that your imagination is a powerful tool for resilience and growth. Embrace your inner dreamer, and watch how it transforms your reality. 🌟
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