I think I've been sucker punched

We had a pretty stellar 4th of July weekend. We went to the movies, saw a great fireworks show, and had some pool side relaxation to cool off. On the actual 4th we had a lazy movie day and watched a movie called "Sucker Punch." At first i thought it would be a complete guy movie. Hot chicks with guns and lots of action. I wasn't disappointed, but I was very surprised.



The basis of the movie is, a girl loses her mother and her abusive step-father has her committed. In the asylum the main character, baby doll, makes friends and quickly formulates an escape plan. (As her step-father has made arrangements to have her lobotomized to keep her quiet.) In order to gather the tools she needs to escape she creates two layers of alternate realities. In order to do the things she has to do, she disappears into the world she creates. Here she is the greatest dancer, a major kick butt fighter and the best part is that her friends come with her.

This got me to thinking, this seems to be a common theme in many movies I've seen recently. Exploring the limits and function of imagination.

But why?

It made me think how appealing imagination is to me. The thought of returning to the time when I wasn't sure if my toys came to life when i left the room. I didn't know that I would spend more time remembering the stars than looking at them. My priorities used to consist of waiting for summer break, riding bikes and pretending that the couch was a fortress.

So what to do? How do you become a kid again without being looked at strangely, or like Baby Doll, keep from getting locked up? Can you submit to the grandeur of imagination and work 8-5?


I think you can have both worlds and still exist in reality. You just have to be willing to have an outlet. For me its a combination of things writing, reading, painting, singing, and learning new things. (and various other things that are better as hobbies than jobs). But over the last year or so i haven't been so keen on my imaginary to do list.

Imagination is important. Whether its an escape to keep you safe until you can return to reality, or its a way to keep you from feeling like you live to work, its a savior of the mind and a great way to revitalize a drive that has been wound down.

What do you do to keep your imagination active? How do you exercise your brain after a week that left room for nothing but work?