When Did Imagination Die?

What’s Good!

What’s up, everyone! Welcome to this week’s What’s Good!

As I’ve been learning more and more about this whole writing thing, I’ve realized something…

Writing is actually a lot more fun than school ever made it seem.

When we’re kids, we’re encouraged to dream, imagine, and create. We invent worlds, creatures, adventures, and stories without thinking twice. Then somewhere along the way, writing turns into research papers, citations, and making sure everything fits inside the lines.

What the heck happened?

Where did all the imagination go?

Let me ask you something to kick things off.

When was the last time you just let your mind wander?

Not toward something good or bad. Not trying to solve a problem. Just letting your brain go wherever it wanted.

I honestly feel like that’s becoming a lost art.

Life doesn’t have to be serious every second of every day. It’s okay to take a mental break.

I’ve been wrestling with what I wanted to write about this week. I kept bouncing between topics, overthinking every idea, and getting nowhere. Finally I just sat down and started typing.

So if this blog feels a little all over the place… well, what’s life without a little chaos?

A Quick Life Update

Things are moving in the right direction over here!

I’m officially off the crutches and back to walking. I still feel like a pirate because my leg is locked straight, so every step comes with a pretty obvious limp. But hey… progress is progress.

Ashley is doing great, and the baby bump is really bumping now. It’s crazy to think that in just a few months I’m going to be a dad.

Part of me is unbelievably excited.

The other part is thinking…

“Wait… I’m still just a kid that’s supposed to teach a little kid how to be a person?”

That’s a wild thought.

We’ve started putting together the nursery, and everything is starting to feel real. We actually have a name picked out, but that’s staying our little secret until she’s here. I’ve definitely caught myself thinking about all the things I want to teach her… and honestly, right now most of those lessons involve staying away from boys!

Life has a funny way of reminding you that even during exciting seasons, chaos still finds you.

Speaking of chaos…

If you’ve ever owned a dog, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

I love my dogs more than just about anything, but when a 120-pound dog decides the best place to be is directly in front of your recovering knee, you learn pretty quickly how patient you really are. They somehow always know exactly where your feet are supposed to go.

What’s Good?

The World Cup is almost over, which is honestly kind of sad because… what am I supposed to watch now?

One thing is for sure though… Messi just keeps proving why he’s one of the greatest to ever play the game.

Whether you’re a fan or not, it’s hard not to appreciate what he’s doing. Watching him play almost feels like watching someone solve a puzzle before everyone else even realizes there is one.

The final is on Sunday, so we’ll see how it all ends.

The Weekly Project

So here’s the question I’ve been stuck on all week…

When did imagination die?

Who decided we had to be locked in on productivity 100% of the time?

I catch myself constantly thinking about work, business, content, the future, finances, and everything I “should” be doing. Then I notice I’m doing it…

…and somehow I just keep doing it anyway.

What the heck?

How often does overthinking actually solve anything?

Most of the time…

It doesn’t.

One unexpected thing I’ve discovered through writing is that I’ve started falling in love with art.

I could sit and look at different pieces for hours. Someday I’d love to have a house filled with artwork that tells a story.

Now, don’t get me wrong…

I still don’t think I’ll ever understand the banana duct-taped to the wall. Maybe somebody smarter than me can explain that one.

But ancient art… comic book styles… incredible paintings… sculptures… even modern digital art…

I love it.

The other day I saw a portrait of Thomas Shelby made completely out of old floppy disks. It was unbelievable.

I also immediately wished I had an extra fifty grand laying around.

Maybe someday.

The more I think about it, though, the more I realize art isn’t just paintings hanging on a wall.

Music is art.

Books are art.

Poems are art.

Photography is art.

Sculptures are art.

Writing is art.

If you’re creating something that didn’t exist before, you’re an artist.

You’re taking thoughts that only existed inside your head and bringing them into the world.

That’s a pretty incredible thing.

Somewhere along the way, I think a lot of us stopped creating.

We traded watercolors for deadlines.

Sidewalk chalk for emails.

Imaginary adventures for scrolling on our phones.

Don’t get me wrong. Work matters.

Responsibilities matter.

But so does imagination.

I’m not a great painter.

Maybe one day I’ll write a really long book.

Maybe I won’t.

The cool part is… there aren’t really any rules anymore.

Nobody is grading us.

Nobody is telling us what’s right or wrong.

So why not make something simply because you enjoy it?

Recommendations of the Week

I’ve always been a FIFA guy since I grew up playing soccer, so that’ll always get my recommendation.

I’d also encourage you to find an art style you think is cool, even if it’s weird. Spend some time looking at it and appreciating the creativity behind it.

I’ve also been grilling a ton lately, and I’ll stand by this forever…

A perfectly grilled steak is one of the best meals on the planet.

I also watched A Dog’s Purpose this week, and it hit pretty close to home.

Having the two dogs I have now, plus all the dogs I grew up with, it was fun imagining what they would’ve been doing if they really had lives before this one.

Kind of a crazy thought.

Go give it a watch.

This Week’s Challenge

Find twenty minutes this week where you don’t have to accomplish anything.

Sit outside.

Write.

Draw.

Dream.

Think.

Let your imagination wander wherever it wants to go.

Write down whatever comes to mind.

Who knows?

It might be the beginning of something amazing.

A Few Questions for You

I’d love to hear from you.

• What made you smile this week?

• What’s one goal you’re chasing right now?

• Do you have a favorite style of art?

Let me know!

Thanks for hanging out with me through this week’s little adventure.

Remember…

The world doesn’t need the perfect you. It needs the real you still smiling.

Love you all!