The progress of mankind has always been highly dependent upon the capacity of men and women to imagine that which does not yet exist.  In the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupery, "A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral."  Not only is imagination vital to progress, but it also is important for good physical and mental health.  We must be able to navigate our minds beyond the ordinary experiences of everyday life.  

We must dare to dream, and we must follow our dreams. Henry David Thoreau wrote, "I have learned this by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

Society is often critical of dreamers.  Those who can imagine things that nobody else can yet see are said to be out of touch with reality.  This has always been the case.  When men first dreamed of flying, they were ridiculed. When our founding fathers dreamed of a new nation that would become America, few people had the capacity to imagine what could be. When scientists dreamed of vaccines for diseases such as smallpox and polio, there were many skeptics.  Yet all of these things, and so many more, have become reality.

Perhaps never before has there been such a strong need for men and women with imagination.  The world cries out for dreamers who can accomplish the impossible.  In a 1963 speech, President John F. Kennedy said, "The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities.  We need men who can dream of things that never were."    

Such dreaming is not restricted to potential new inventions and scientific breakthroughs.  We need people who can dream of peace in a world too often at war.  We need those who can dream of making the world a more just and less-violent place.  And we especially need people who can dream of a more caring society--one where more people feel a responsibility and desire to help others.  All accomplishments begin with imagination.  Without it, we cannot make it to first base in our efforts to solve problems.                 

Imagination can be a source of individual pleasure and great potential creativity.  Imagination is a gift to us that we should not waste.  Perhaps we should reevaluate our attitudes toward dreamers.  Maybe most of us could benefit from putting our imaginations to greater use.  Isn't it worth a try? 

Copyright 2014, Allen Smith

TB-80—Posted 06/17/2014