An article for Seniors on using our imaginations? Isn’t the imagination much more about the kinds of things we did when we played back then? What leads me, then, to write such an article about our imaginations is an awareness that life these days seems very challenging and difficult for everyone – and especially for us as seniors. Some examples of these challenges come to mind for me. The aging process can be very hard as we experience more and more limitations and even the possibility of having to move for more care and lose our home base. Members of our families and close friends are dying. There are also divisions, conflicts, and polarizations happening everywhere. These and many other occurrences challenge us to find hope as we age.

I believe that an important part of being hopeful is using our imaginations. In other words, making use of our imaginations is not just for young kids but also for us much older kids ourselves. It is really seeking to remain young at heart – no matter how many years are on our odometers!

I can remember as a kid playing games like cops and robbers and having lots of fun in taking on different roles every time we played. There was playing hide and seek and pin the tail on the donkey while being blindfolded. What games did you like to play as a kid? I would suggest an important part of the enjoyment of these games was using our imaginations to put ourselves in different places, playing different roles. Then, we began school and were often challenged to learn all sorts of subjects, and doing well on tests became an important step in the next chapters of our lives. I can remember teachers reprimanding kids who seemed to be daydreaming. As I grew up, I heard and learned to put away the stuff of childhood, to grow up and become an adult who would contribute to society by getting an education, a job, marry and raise a family. All very important things to do, then and now! In the process, I think it was quite easy to lose our ability to imagine other possibilities and ways to do things, as well as look at things.

I have always been a fan of the band The Beatles and one of the songs that has especially spoken to me is John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Here are a few lines that especially speak to me about what we are considering in this article:

“Imagine all the people

Livin’ in peace

You

You may say I am a dreamer

But I’m not the only one.

I hope someday you will join us

And the world will be as one”

Imagine lyrics © Budde Music France, CONSALAD CO., Ltd, Downtown Music Publishing, Sentric Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, TuneCore Inc.

These words, as well as the lyrics of the whole song, speak to me of the power of the imagination – imagining and believing in what we dream for ourselves, our kids, and grandkids as well as the whole world. We are never too old to dream and imagine! What do you dream for and hope for these days? Are you afraid to share these dreams with anyone?

What do I imagine and dream for these days? I desire and hope for a world in which more and more people take seriously the importance of caring for creation – our Mother Earth. I desire and hope for a world in which we address all the violence and guns in our society and pass laws that restrict ownership of guns. And I hope that we can find ways other than war to solve our problems and disagreements as well as discover ways to come together as sisters and brothers, acknowledging both our similarities AND differences.

Lastly, another component I mentioned earlier about our imaginings and dreams for ourselves and for others and possibly being afraid of sharing them with others. In sharing, we can often expand our dreams and learn the dreams and imaginings of others. Imagining is one way to tap into the little girl or boy who lives within each of us, who has always loved to play and dream of what might be possible. That can truly enliven us and give us reasons to be hopeful, especially when life seems dark and hopeless. So, what do you desire or dream about for yourself and others? Don’t be afraid to be aware of these imaginings and to share them with others. If we are able to do this, even though we are aging, we will remain young at heart.

Mark T. Scannell is a senior and writer. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife.