Thursday, October 17, 2013

On Daydreaming



 Neil Gaiman gave a lecture on "Why our Future Depends on Libraries, Reading and Daydreaming" which was edited and published in the Guardian. I loved it. Books and daydreaming have always played a big part in my life.


I'm also practicing with photo editing using textures. These are my first efforts. I'm not too pleased with the way they look when the photos are enlarged, so I'll go back to the drawing board. Little is more, I think.
 

Back to the subject of books. I usually have a couple of them on the go. Novels I tend to devour quickly because I get caught up in the story line. Non-fiction I take more slowly. I want to remember, to think about what I've read. Non-fiction is usually less addictive than stories, although not always. 

In his lecture, Gaiman asked his listeners to look around them. I did and didn't see anything unusual - a few dishes to wash, a window with grandbaby fingerprints, a pile of tea towels to put away. Then he said that everything around us was something someone imagined. I've been mulling that over. Walls, windows, heat, tables, chairs, dishes - everything was imagined before it was made. What a powerful tool the mind can be. For me, this thought puts value on daydreaming and taking time to think, activities that are highly undervalued in our produce now, publish now world.

Years ago, I remember going into my husband's office in Quito. He was the administrator of a very busy hospital. Meetings, phone calls, emails occupied his time. Yet there he was, sitting in his chair, staring out the window. I asked him what was wrong. "Nothing," he said. "I'm thinking." 

Wouldn't it be great if we all took a few minutes each day to really think? We might do some things differently if we really thought about the implications of our actions and words, both short term and long term. Wouldn't it be great if our leaders, be they civic, political, religious, or employers, did the same?

I'd love to know what you think. Do you daydream or imagine? 

21 comments:

  1. All the time, but I've never thought of it as a virtue. The point about looking around was so intriguing to me as I spend a lot of time in a room I imagined and John brought into existence...we were not always on the same page, yet we so enjoy this space.

    I see that we are both have the same Cross Creek edition. What you're doing with the textures is very pretty...soft, dreamy, vintage-y. Must get busy on that myself. I imagine it takes lots of practice.

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  2. I dream, and imagine too. What an interesting thought he put forward. I will have to look more carefully at things.

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  3. I think we often forget the art of daydreaming and it's a pity for as we dream oftentimes we come across important thoughts. I think daydreaming is to be encouraged and not frowned upon as in "Why aren't you listening - you are daydreaming again take 100 lines"!!!

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  4. So enjoyed reading this post. Now I have more reason to escape into a good book and to spend a little time daydreaming.

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  5. You stopped me in my tracks with this post, Lorrie. Upon thought I've realized that I do a lot of my daydreaming and thinking while I'm working on a painting but when I'm doing the daily chores, errands etc. that's when I daydream and think about painting. I wonder if that's common for creative types?

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  6. Yes, I do daydream...maybe I should think more :)

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  7. Thank you for this link Lorri! I will forward it to the other local library board members. We are hoping to build a new library in our town. I have always loved books and enjoyed reading one of my father's old books recently. Thoughts and daydreams are worthwhile ...so too is observation and really listening to each other.

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  8. I don't read as much as I once did. Growing up I read constantly. I LOVED the public library! Just loved it....and they were old and filled with books! Amazing! Lived in Mobile, AL in middle school and high school and visited the library on Government Blvd all the time! It was a life saver for me! Your hydrangea photo is really nice!

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  9. Thinking or mulling or journaling time is gold standard living!
    Non-fiction rocks my world; most fiction makes me want my time investment back.
    Here's a mind blower that my Dad taught me: everything you own, someone sold. The ability to sell or the lack thereof changes everything. Even ideas have to be sold to implemented!
    (I too have baby finger prints on windows. Love them!)

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  10. I enjoy letting my mind wander, especially while lying in bed or walking. Sometimes the line between thinking (the legitimate, serious kind of thinking) and daydreaming gets pretty fuzzy.

    The Gaiman article is bookmarked. I'll read it when Miss S is in bed.

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  11. Hello Lorrie, You have make beautiful photos!

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  12. Daydreamer here...but I've actually been intentional to take the time to think more these days.

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  13. I tend to be a daydreamer at times..here in body but not in mind! But I'm always thinking about something. Guys, on the other hand, seem to be able to tune everything out...and think about nothing!

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  14. All day long, and I have to balance it with living in the moment. But, my imagination is a lovely place to be... I like that exercise of looking around and thinking about all you see was imagined first. Especially when you saw the fingerprints. Oh, how sweet that is! How your children imagined their child, how God thought about the special soul He was going to create. And, how you one day would enjoy her fingerprints as you consider His creation.

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  15. Lovely post - thanks for the link. I daydream and I imagine. I have always been curious about how things are made and how someone first came up with the idea of eating something/making a new design, etc. When I was growing up my mother used to often tell me to stop being so silly, so I soon learned to not ask her questions - but they still floated about in my mind. My kids were allowed any and all questions - we spent time exploring so many things and possibilities and now my grandsons have joined - we do have a glorious time wondering and dreaming about this fabulous place and fabulous time that we live in. Happy daydreams.

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  16. Sometimes I think I daydream too much and don't get anything done.
    It can capture the imagination.
    I do make gift bags and have for many years. I love the fabric choices in the ones you have shown.
    Now photo editing is fun, but so much to learn. I thought I had it figured out, but it seems they have
    updated the program and now I can't figure it out again. Must go back and spend some time. Like
    your first try.

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  17. Look at you! You're doing textured layers on photos!!!!!!!! You did great with these - very dreamy! I'm so glad that you got brave and went ahead and tried the technique. Isn't it fun and creative?

    I do a LOT of imagining. I'm always thinking, for example, what I want an image to look like before I snap the shutter. As I like to always say - begin with the end in mind. I just created a textured file yesterday, for example. When I took it last year (in Montana), I knew immediately that I wanted to put a texture on it and use it for a Christmas image. Never mind that it was August when I took the photo, haha! Anyhow, it turned out great with the texturing and special effects, just like I imagined and before I even put the camera up to my eye.

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  18. What a AMAZING post:) your blog Is so beautiful ....do you have bloglovin??

    Check my blog...with stylish Swedish fireplaces:)

    Have a great Sunday dear

    LOVE Maria at inredningsvis - inredning it's, Swedish for decor :)

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  19. Your photos look great, Lorrie, they really do. I love this post on books and taking time to be still and think. My husband is a good thinker, but I think on the run, while multi tasking so the thoughts aren't always concrete or well thought out! Loved this post --words and illustrations!

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  20. Ooh Lorrie you've tossed us a curved ball here - asking us to think...deliberately.
    I agree, occasionally we need to step off the treadmill of life and sit quietly to think and plan.
    Years ago when I did Retreats I found reflecting on life and decisions to be a rewarding exercise.
    I am rather a day dreamer and can lose a lot of time doing this!

    Your photos have wonderful texture - I would be very happy with those!
    hugs
    Shane

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  21. Just like you Lorrie I always have several books on the go at once. A novel to read in bed which again I get through the quickest and then some non-fiction and a couple of biographies to dip in and out and then a number of books like 'Behind the Scenes at Downton Abbey', travel books and books on the Royal Family that are always on a side table being gradually got through.

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Thank you for your comment. I read and value each one, cherishing the connections we can make although far apart. Usually, I visit your blog in return, although if you ask a question I try to contact you directly.

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