 My imagination is a ticket to places where people get along, plain turns vibrant, underdogs shine, and things make total sense. But lately I am realizing it balances with my darker side, my loneliness. Here's my best way to explain it right now-- 1971 Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory used to creep me out big time, for a long time. Violet blew up and got squeezed. And Willie Wonka seemed to just let it happen. Yet the song “Pure Imagination” contrasted this, full of wonder, power, and freedom. Charlie and his Grandfather were full of this, even at the start of the film. And no amount of indulgence, like Violet craved, was really needed for them to find joy, no matter how simple their days looked to other people. There has been a lonely side in my life, the one that got stuck on rules and assumed if people around me felt annoyed or angry, it must be something I was doing wrong. Comparison yields separateness. On the flip side there has always been imagination available. My imagination is so fun, really it is. Perhaps without loneliness, I would not have looked beyond. I hope these stories spark a little giggle or get your own version of imagination going. Lynn Jodeit Ouellette copyright 2025 Illustration CDD20 on Pixabay | ___Says it better than I can. |
