What if ... ?
Spend any amount of time in my house when the children are around and you're sure to hear these two little words: what if?
Having a five-year-old with an active imagination, the what ifs can get pretty outlandish. The other day as we drove by a man walking an enormous dog, my daughter piped up with, "What if that dog could walk on his back legs and put his arm around that man and start talking to him?" My practical, bill-paying, tired out brain immediately thought, if the dog could do that, then he couldn't really be a dog.
Fortunately, my right brain quickly silenced the logical side. The idea was far too interesting. What if the dog could talk? What if the dog could walk on his back legs? What if the owner knew this and used the dog as a spy? What if ... ?
Life is full of what ifs. The sad thing is, as we get older, the what ifs get kind of boring. What if I don't get the job? What if I put the sofa on that wall? What if I don't eat enough fiber?
One of the beauties of being around children is being able to see all the possibilities that they so willingly accept as reality. Of course dogs can talk. Just feed them alphabet soup like in Susan Meddaugh's Martha books. Of course dogs can walk on their back legs. How often have you seen Snoopy go down on all fours?
Sometimes it's hard let go and allow yourself to believe in the impossible. Believing leaves room for hurt and disappointment. Believing means trying and sometimes failing. Nobody wants to be a loser.
But there's so much more to lose when you don't take a chance, so many opportunities that will never materialize if you don't hold on to a little hope, a little idea, a little what if ...
Dream big. Follow your imagination. Believe in the unbelievable.
Here's to exciting what ifs ... don't let them pass you by.
Having a five-year-old with an active imagination, the what ifs can get pretty outlandish. The other day as we drove by a man walking an enormous dog, my daughter piped up with, "What if that dog could walk on his back legs and put his arm around that man and start talking to him?" My practical, bill-paying, tired out brain immediately thought, if the dog could do that, then he couldn't really be a dog.
Fortunately, my right brain quickly silenced the logical side. The idea was far too interesting. What if the dog could talk? What if the dog could walk on his back legs? What if the owner knew this and used the dog as a spy? What if ... ?
Life is full of what ifs. The sad thing is, as we get older, the what ifs get kind of boring. What if I don't get the job? What if I put the sofa on that wall? What if I don't eat enough fiber?
One of the beauties of being around children is being able to see all the possibilities that they so willingly accept as reality. Of course dogs can talk. Just feed them alphabet soup like in Susan Meddaugh's Martha books. Of course dogs can walk on their back legs. How often have you seen Snoopy go down on all fours?
Sometimes it's hard let go and allow yourself to believe in the impossible. Believing leaves room for hurt and disappointment. Believing means trying and sometimes failing. Nobody wants to be a loser.
But there's so much more to lose when you don't take a chance, so many opportunities that will never materialize if you don't hold on to a little hope, a little idea, a little what if ...
Dream big. Follow your imagination. Believe in the unbelievable.
Here's to exciting what ifs ... don't let them pass you by.