a little nonsense…

Once in a while a little nonsense is needed. Nonsense lifts our hearts, delights our spirits and fuels creativity. The world would be a very sad, sad place indeed, if it were not for the delightful creations of Roald Dahl, Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel), Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), L. Frank Baum, C.S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, J. M. Barrie, Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens), the Brothers Grimm, Aesop and countless others.

Fantasy and nonsense are relished by the wisest of us for good reason. It gives us a break from reality. It allows us explore our imagination into a world of possibilities. A little make-believe stimulates our creativity, which lets us and encourages us to be inventive, efficient and effective in our daily routines. “How?” you ask.

Creative thinking promotes people to see things differently, from new angles and perspectives, which in turn allows people to find better ways of tackling their daily chores and jobs. As Dahl stated, “A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest of men,” because nonsense ultimately serves a wonderful purpose in our lives.

I invite everyone to use a purple crayon, mismatch your outfit, talk backwards, or any other nonsensical thing you wish to do for a spell. I keep blowing bubbles in my car, so if I am ever stuck in traffic, I can enjoy the moment as if I were a kid again. And, it is fun to see people’s faces light up when they see bubbles dance in front of their windshields. It is that “whistle while you work attitude” that really makes our lives worth living. One final note…I leave you with this phenomenal quote from Alice in Wonderland:

“Alice laughed: “There’s no use trying,” she said; “one can’t believe impossible things.” “I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

 

Related articles

• Phonics speaks to children’s knack for nonsense | Louise Schweitzer (guardian.co.uk)
• Nonsense Makes Sense (saxtonstudio.wordpress.com)
• Writing for Children: Let Your Imagination Rip (theindieexchange.com)
• “The Seven Lady Godivas” by Theodor Seuss Geisel (“Dr. Seuss”) (petergalenmassey.com)