Wondering and Wandering

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

Are We Losing It?

"I was just wondering..."

"Well, no, no destination in mind, I'm just wandering around..."

How important is imagination these days? The corollory question is, does time rule our thinking? What's happening to the way we see the world, and how the world sees us?

This philosophical inquiry started as we were wandering along the 10 kilometers of one of the world's best walking beaches in Cuba. I happened to notice a deep set footprint, like no other I'd seen before. It's toes carved caves in the sand, it's heel broke the surface like an earthquake, and it left an imprint so unique that it could be identified by a 2 year old.

It's as if the universe had laid an egg in my mind through this stranger's walking pattern. After a few days of incubation, my own set of word play twins were born. One is named "wonder" and the other "wander". How does wander intersect with wonder, and in the long run, are we losing our respect for imagination?

Research!

In his recent book, The Medici Effect, author Frans Johansson states that word play is a way to reduce "associative barriers", which in turn enables the creative process.

Consider the following exercise: What words do you think of when you read the word, "Foot"? The most common response by far, is the word "shoe", followed by "hand, toe, leg".

By wandering, and wondering - using your relaxed mind to increase your capacity to imagine - and removing time limits, to do lists and direction from your wandering, you can increase your creative potential.

Simply stated, you don't have to walk the beach in Ensenachos to free your mind of preconceived ideas or to problem solve. Look for images, symbols, everyday patterns for the clues to spark your thinking as you walk aimlessly for an unlimited amount of time. Pay attention to the little things in nature. Stop.

Do you know this foot?

Whoever the footprint belongs to, thank you! Chances are your feet are usually on Canadian soil...you are male...you flew into Santa Clara Cuba recently...and you love the energy of a sunrise as much as we do!

Happy wandering and wondering. Let's nurture the power of imagination with our children. Let's not lose it!

See you next week, with more Imaginative research and random thoughts.

- Maggie