Monday, May 7, 2012

What is Imagination?


          Imagination is defined as the “formation of a mental image of something that is neither perceived as real nor present to the senses” (American 677).  It refers to a mental image and the tendency to be able to form such images.  “Imagination can be used as a means to creatively confront and deal with reality, widely believed to be the invention of unrealistic ideas or notions” (Sasson).  “Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality” (de Gaultier).  A person is always at war with others and/or themselves.  The mind can twist and create willingly what it desires.  The one who controls the path of the imaginative mind is the master of his mind. He chooses the path, the distance, and the outcome of the imagined events.  Many people fear those who let the imagination roam through endless time and space, not stopping until release and freedom are obtained.  Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”  He infers that the human imagination is capable of comprehending the entire world, perhaps even the universe.  Knowledge is important and needed, but the mind is what controls knowledge.  Without imagination, however, there would be no dreams to lead to the discovery of new knowledge.  The imagination plays an important role in the process of creating a new world that is inside another; however, observation is also needed to succeed and control the boundaries of the imagination (Brookes 12).  Reality is not always what the masses believe it to be. It has two sides the imagination controls which may either bring a person destruction or release from pain. 

What is the true reality of the world?  Vithu Jevaloganathan said, “The identity of one changes with how one perceives reality.”  The world revolves around the idea that there is one believable reality, and it is the only way to live.  Not many people are willing to challenge this idea by branching out into the depths of imaginative thought.  A man can choose to conform to the dull and accustomed reality of the everyday world, or he can choose to be transformed by exploring what the mind has to offer.  The imagination of a new reality can be threatening or comforting.  A person can get lost in the mind and be fooled by the imagination.  People who live life as if in a make-believe world are often labeled as “daydreamers.”  A popular song of the late 1960’s characterized such individuals as “daydream believers” (“Birds”).  People that choose to live life through daydreams often lose sight of reality and may become irresponsible idealists.  The imagined world and life becomes one’s reality and truth.  A man can lose himself to a false reality.  Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Imagination rules the world!”  If allowed to do so, one’s mind can twist the truth into a myth, creating a new, safe and happy world of the mind which seems to be the only truth.  On the other hand, the imagination is capable of transforming a wicked reality of unstable thoughts and emotions into an imagined reality of safety and security.

          Man often wants to live through his dreams because it is safer than the real world.  Nevertheless, no man can escape having to come back to harshness of the realities around him.  John Lennon wrote, 
“. . . Imagine there's no countries,
it isn't hard to do
No need to kill or die for
and no religions too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace. . .”
He imagined a world with no separation and pain but of one with only peace and love.  He allowed his imagination to bring him hope for a better future and reality.  Man cannot let the truth and destruction of the circumstances around him destroy his hope, but attempts to escape into the dreams of peace.  The man who becomes a dreamer finds a new beginning, life, and hope.  No longer does he have to endure a day, wishing for it to end, so he can sleep and dream in order to have a means of escape.  He can relax and see reality as a learning ground to grow stronger and create new thoughts and dreams.  He can then achieve the purpose of using the imagination to his advantage.  The imagination can then become the reality and be as comforting as a dream.  

Perhaps imagination cannot be trusted.  It may entrap a man and make him believe his imagined life is reality, and the rest of the world is living in an alternate reality.  If one allows imagination to take root in such a way that the dream becomes one’s actuality, then truth is blurred into one existence and one thought with the imagination.  The truth and the fiction become indistinguishable from one another.  Alternately, perhaps imagination is the greatest tool of the human brain for coping with the harsh realities of life.  Comforting memory and thought embellished by the imagination provide comfort and happiness, even peace of mind.  The person who learns to use his imagination properly, under control, as a tool of creativity may have the ability to change not only his own life but also to change the world.  Imagination assists in building a man’s belief system, and his beliefs will provide the catalyst for his actions.  Ultimately, imagination is the compass by which one’s destiny can be charted.



Works Cited
“Imagination.” The American Heritage College Dictionary. 3rd ed. 1997. Print. Pp 677.
“Imagination.” Dictionary.com. N.p, 2011. Web. 8 April 2011.
Lincoln, Wanda and Suid, Murry. “Imagination.” The Teacher’s Quotation Book. New York:  White Plains, 1986. Print. pp 67
Sasson, Remez. “The Power of Imagination.” SuccessConsciousness.com, 2001-2011. Web. 8 April 2011.

Mirror


I look in the mirror
I see a person that should be me
Who does it look different?
Why do I look like a monster?

Is the person people see not the real me?
I wish this monster inside would leave
Let me see the person others see
I am afraid of the real me

Make it leave
Make the thing that is me disappear
I don’t want to see it anymore
Make the evil go away

Make it leave before I become it
I want to escape the truth
I want to hide it inside
Never letting it out

Please save me!
I don’t want to good to be lost
Don’t let me die and become the monster
The monster inside is taking over

I am being lost
You’re losing me
I am becoming the monster
I am sorry I am gone forever. . .

Never Give Up

You hide in a shell of darkness
Come out and see the friends you have
We care about you
We want to you to come back to us

No! Don’t slip back into heartache
Stay here with the ones who love you
Come out of the depression that entangles you
We miss your kindness

Your almost there forget the past
I’m right here hold my hand we’ll get through it
I’ll stay her with you until its over
I won’t let you go through it alone

Just don’t give up
I love you
Come back and stay with me
I’ll be there for you stay with me

I wish this day to end
To make your pain go away
Until that day arrives
Never give up, I’m here in the darkness
I’m here with you forever

Alone

Here I sit alone
Wishing to be held
To feel that warm embrace


Oh, how I wish someone
Would love me enough to stay
To stay by me through the cold


Through the hurt and sadness
Through the tears and laughs
My with may never be


So, as to me
I sit alone waiting. . .
To be loved by that one person


Who can make my sadness and sorrow
Be as though it had never been
I wish this to come true only in


My Fairy Tale Life would I meet
The one to make the disappear
Please come and hold me close please don't disappear

Love

Love is what people want
Love is something to long for
Love is magical
Love is dangerous


Love can hurt someone
Love can break friends apart
Love can destroy families
Love can destroy me


Love may be in stories
Love may be magical
Love may be wanted by most
Love may be the most dangerous


Love brings people together
Love brings family together
Love brings friends together
Love brings heartache and pain

Saturday, April 7, 2012


This is the first painting that I ever did.


This is a random drawing I did on my arm at work when I was bored. It says "MRI"