Lack of Imagination

Lack of Imagination

Many, perhaps most failures (when we don't find the somebody we're looking for) in Search and Rescue

Build the pillow fort.

(SAR) are brought on by a lack of imagination (after the failure of preparedness on the individual's part in the first place).  This often comes from a healthy dose of underestimation.  For example, on one call, looking for an elderly lady who had vanished without her purse, car keys, or phone, none of us "imagined" she could be under a bush in the backyard following a dropped hearing aid and a slip.  On another, a man froze because none of the local police personnel could imagine an 80-year-old with Alzheimer's climbing over a six-foot privacy fence and laying down 50 yards from the back door of the nursing home.  Our lack of imagination is often brought on by false or falsely imposed estimates of the realm of possibilities.  

The Pony Express
rides again.

When we think about the things we don't do in family life, it's often because our imagination has construed the consequences of the thing in an unrealistic manner.  For example, if you're contemplating moving across the country for a new life or a new job...fear and imagination will tell you that you'll never reinvent yourself, you'll never have a friend again, and so forth.  In this case, our imagination has failed us.  Will that scenario be challenging?  Yes.  Will it be difficult?  Yes.  Is it possible?  Certainly.  Will it be worth it?  Likely.  

Imagine what life was 
like for others...

When we think about the imagination and intestinal fortitude necessary for the pioneers of the mid 1800's to set forth west on a perilous journey to the west, our imagination can hardly conjure it up.  Most of us harken back to the 1990's video game when we think Oregon Trail...not the hardness of our yesteryear ancestors.  As we think about our moving example from above, think about the imagination it took to set across the prairies and mountains in a wagon as compared to calling U-Haul to go now.  You can research every facet of your new location no the internet, you can practically walk down your new street via Google Streets.  Imagine the imagination necessary in the Columbus days to set sail not entirely knowing you wouldn't sail off the edge.

Practice imagining...
it's a muscle that 
can grow.

When you think about the above examples, think about when was the last time you had an imagination-storm...not a "how to" brainstorm, but a "what to" conversation with yourself or your family.  What do you imagine the next season of life looking like?  If you're in the toddler stage - what does early elementary, junior high, high school, college, empty nester, retirement, grandparenting look like?  This isn't the "how to" of planning your great grandkids wedding attire but rather the rough sketch of the known next chapters ahead.  Using your imagination to shape the outline version of what's ahead allows you to later, better fill out the skeleton with the muscle and flesh of details in a brainstorm session.  This intentionality allows you to live your best life.  

Creative toys
help.

We fail to imagine that anything bad...or even sometimes good could happen to us.  I had a friend who was taken completely by surprise when his wife told him she was getting a divorce.  He'd never stopped to imagine that divorce could be in the realm of possibility.  Consequently, he'd never really put much intention into the prevention, maintenance, preparedness, etc. of the divorce.  To spell out the example a bit more, by not imagining that divorce was possible...there was a decided lack of things like marriage meetings, date nights, and so forth.  There was also a lack of prep like saving in joint and single accounts from a financial standpoint.  

Sleep in the back
yard or treehouse.

Lastly, for our next generation, the failure of imagination is impacting our small children.  Imaginative play is a huge part of healthy early childhood.  Increasingly, with screen "babysitters" and more increased organized activities, in large part, gone are the days of kids "just playing."  When we don't allow them to pretend they're cowboys, princesses, dragons, knights in shining armor we rob them of the practice to be able to use imagination down the road.  Similarly, when we swap out books that make you think creatively for screens that make you not blink...we further rob the kid's future selves from imagination muscles.  

All of this is to say that our imagination is a powerful tool in our human-ness.  As we grow older, we tend to leave the make-believe-friend behind which is probably good...but unfortunately, we often also leave behind our creativity and imagination.  By doing so, we tend to limit our thinking through a fear lens as opposed to the wider aperture that allows us to do great things.  It's important in your personal and family life that you allow yourself the time and space to imagine...what you want to be in the next season, who you want your kids to become, what adventures and lifestyle you want to lead.   

With you in the arena, from ours to yours...Happy Trails!

Call to Action: 

• Pick out a part of your life that you have a decided lack of imagination in...set aside some time to dream about what could be...then pick out a few action items that ooch you closer to the desired end state.  
• 1 - ___________________ 
• 2 - ___________________
• 3 - ___________________
• Discussion: Consider what you/your family could/would/should (level of commitment) and start/stop/sustain (action) in terms of imagination turned into action.  

Further Reading, Motivation, and References:

- Think about the pioneer lifestyle

- "Imagination is more important than knowledge." Albert Einstein