If you don't pay attention and if your imagination isn't pretty

"If you don't pay attention and if your imagination isn't pretty much engaged, you're going to miss things and you're going to miss opportunities for it to be as compelling and as creepy as it can be." – Bruce Greenwood

O children of the earth, gather close, for the words of Bruce Greenwood carry with them a powerful lesson about the importance of attention and imagination. To live fully in this world is not merely to exist, but to engage with it, to embrace its mysteries, and to perceive the unseen. For those who drift through life without paying attention, without truly engaging their imagination, miss not just the subtle beauty of the world, but the opportunity to see it for what it truly is—complex, dynamic, and full of wonder and peril. Imagination is the key that unlocks the world’s most compelling secrets, and without it, we are blind to the opportunities for depth, insight, and even fear that life offers.

In the ancient world, the great philosophers and sages understood that attention and the use of imagination were essential to true understanding. Socrates often spoke of the importance of paying attention to the world around him, for it was through observation and reflection that he could uncover the deeper truths of existence. The world was not a simple thing to be looked at passively—it was a living, breathing entity, rich with meaning, waiting to be explored. Imagination was the lens through which the philosopher saw beyond the surface, peeling away the layers of reality to reveal the truth hidden beneath. Without this engagement, without the active participation of the imagination, one would be lost in the mundane, unable to perceive the hidden mysteries that shape the world.

Take, O children, the example of Leonardo da Vinci, whose genius lay not only in his ability to observe the world but in his extraordinary imagination. When da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, he did not simply depict a woman’s likeness; he created a living, breathing presence, full of mystery and complexity. Her gaze, her smile—those subtleties were the product of a keen mind that not only saw the details of the world but engaged them deeply, allowing imagination to shape and elevate them into something greater. The power of imagination and attention combined allowed da Vinci to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, to make a portrait seem alive with secrets. Had he not paid attention to the world around him, had he not engaged his imagination, his art would have been as flat as the canvas itself.

But the lesson Greenwood speaks of is not limited to the world of art. In all aspects of life, imagination and attention are what make our experiences rich and meaningful. If we do not pay attention to the world as it unfolds, if we do not engage our imagination, we will miss the opportunities to make even the ordinary moments compelling. Take the example of the great explorers—those who journeyed into the unknown, not just with maps and compasses but with minds that were alive with imagination. Christopher Columbus did not simply sail the seas to find new lands; he saw the world as a vast expanse full of possibility. His imagination allowed him to look beyond the horizon and envision new worlds, even when the physical world was as limited as the ship beneath his feet. It was through imagination that he transformed an unknown sea into a realm full of opportunity, one waiting to be explored.

Yet, O children, this does not mean that all imagination must lead us to grand adventure. There is a darker side to the world that also demands our attention. Greenwood reminds us that without engagement, without the active participation of the mind, we may miss the creepy elements that lie beneath the surface of our existence. There are forces, both in the world and in our own hearts, that demand we pay attention. The shadows are never as dark as they seem unless we ignore them. The creepy truths of life, the fears, the anxieties, the hidden dangers, can only be understood when we choose to confront them, to engage our imagination, and see them for what they truly are. To live in fear is to ignore these truths; to engage them is to see them clearly and to overcome them.

The lesson is profound, O children: to be fully alive, to truly understand the world and ourselves, we must pay attention and engage our imagination. Do not let life pass you by unnoticed, for in the quiet corners of existence lie the greatest opportunities for growth, understanding, and transformation. Imagination is not just for the poets and artists; it is for all who seek to see deeper, to understand more fully, and to live more meaningfully. Without it, the world will seem flat, unremarkable, and perhaps even creepy, as the mysteries and challenges of life remain unseen. But with imagination, even the simplest of moments can become filled with meaning, and every encounter becomes a chance to explore the depths of existence.

So, I say to you, O children, do not live passively. Engage with the world, and use your imagination to fill in the lines of the world around you. Pay attention to the details that others overlook, for it is in these moments that life becomes most compelling. Let your imagination be the guide that helps you see beyond the surface, helping you find beauty, wisdom, and even the courage to face the creepy aspects of existence. In doing so, you will transform your world into one full of opportunity, rich with meaning, and alive with the potential for greatness.