With the warmer days and clear blue skies of Spring, our minds are tempted to wander off into daydreams. We dream about new challenges and exotic destinations. We envision ourselves doing something new and exciting or finding a place to relax and enjoy the weather. Day-dreaming is a natural part of the Spring experience. The season invites us to become lost in the newness of life. Is daydreaming a useless distraction or a healthy diversion?
I suppose it depends. If our daydreaming allows us to avoid taking care of our needs, then it is a distraction. But if it gives us room to celebrate the season and reap a greater sense of vitality, then it is a healthy diversion.
When I was a child, Springtime was a great adventure. Richard and I would venture out and explore the woods behind the neighborhood or the creek at the bottom of the hill. These places filled a 10-year old’s heart with wonder. They offered challenging possibilities for adventure. They might have the perfect site for a fort or mysteries that no other 10-year old had ever seen. After being cooped up all winter, Springtime meant freedom, exploration, and discovery.
We can find those same experiences in our daydreams. We can escape our daily routine and become Walter Mitty on safari or Peter Pan flying through Neverland. We can explore the unasked questions that have lingered like gum stuck to our shoe. We can discover that our world is far more interesting than either our to do list, bank account, or personal inventory has ever revealed. Daydreaming allows us to celebrate life with freedom, exploration, and discovery.
As long as it is not a distraction, let us celebrate Spring by allowing the daydreams to carry us away, if only for a short trip into wonder.
“I try to maintain a healthy dose of daydreaming to remain sane.” ~Florence Welch
I suppose it depends. If our daydreaming allows us to avoid taking care of our needs, then it is a distraction. But if it gives us room to celebrate the season and reap a greater sense of vitality, then it is a healthy diversion.
When I was a child, Springtime was a great adventure. Richard and I would venture out and explore the woods behind the neighborhood or the creek at the bottom of the hill. These places filled a 10-year old’s heart with wonder. They offered challenging possibilities for adventure. They might have the perfect site for a fort or mysteries that no other 10-year old had ever seen. After being cooped up all winter, Springtime meant freedom, exploration, and discovery.
We can find those same experiences in our daydreams. We can escape our daily routine and become Walter Mitty on safari or Peter Pan flying through Neverland. We can explore the unasked questions that have lingered like gum stuck to our shoe. We can discover that our world is far more interesting than either our to do list, bank account, or personal inventory has ever revealed. Daydreaming allows us to celebrate life with freedom, exploration, and discovery.
As long as it is not a distraction, let us celebrate Spring by allowing the daydreams to carry us away, if only for a short trip into wonder.
“I try to maintain a healthy dose of daydreaming to remain sane.” ~Florence Welch
Tips - Allowing Ourselves to Day Dream
Let the Paradoxes out to play – Let those conflicting and seemingly opposite situations and circumstances both be true. Allow the light and darkness of life to swirl together until a rainbow of new insights and ideas fill our mind.
Allow Your Mind to Wander – Let them stray from the path we walk every day. What is behind that “tree” we generally ignore? Pretend the limits of reason do not apply and explore the “why knots” in our lives.
Let New Connections Form – Let go of the image of life being a jigsaw puzzle and allow it to be more like a Lego set. Let the pieces come together is new and imaginative ways. Some things actually do fit together in ways we never imagined.
Learn the lessons the day dream has to teach us about ourselves and then return home. What do your daydreams suggest about your needs and desires? How do they suggest that you change the way you live “in the world”?
While daydreaming is an important part of the Springtime experience, be sure and come home to your life. There are three other seasons, and each has a gift for us as long as we show up to receive it.
Allow Your Mind to Wander – Let them stray from the path we walk every day. What is behind that “tree” we generally ignore? Pretend the limits of reason do not apply and explore the “why knots” in our lives.
Let New Connections Form – Let go of the image of life being a jigsaw puzzle and allow it to be more like a Lego set. Let the pieces come together is new and imaginative ways. Some things actually do fit together in ways we never imagined.
Learn the lessons the day dream has to teach us about ourselves and then return home. What do your daydreams suggest about your needs and desires? How do they suggest that you change the way you live “in the world”?
While daydreaming is an important part of the Springtime experience, be sure and come home to your life. There are three other seasons, and each has a gift for us as long as we show up to receive it.
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