Over an obscene amount of shortribs at Korean BBQ the other night, I asked my friend J. what he would do if money, training and other practicalities were no object. Without hesitation, he looked at me squarely in the eye and said, "I'd be a weatherman."
His answer just knocked me out. It's was so perfect - not only because he's a boy who loves data, almanacs, and maps (and hilarious because I could totally imagine him in an appalling suit making sweeping gestures behind a blue screen) - but because it was so...I don't know...effortless? Natural? Playful? More enviable lightheartedness.
Some things are more subjects for daydreaming than others, I find. I will, of course, create a fantasy house and garden complete with a host of baby animals at the drop of a hat. I can, without any effort, conjure up a perfectly delightful meeting with Steve Carrell during which I refuse his amorous offers but graciously suggest we remain friends.
But when it comes to career matters, there are stumbling blocks to imagination. Fear? Negativity? Diffidence? Confusion? These are the little poisonous darts that attempt to paralyze me. I am too easily overwhelmed.
So I'm wondering - what do you do to kickstart your imagination when it's skulking under the couch?
Image from here.
