Beyond the Antlers: Fostering Imagination this Holiday Season

By Shannon Bussnick, LSW

This holiday season, I witnessed a unique transformation through my daughter’s eyes: a traditional reindeer morphed into a bear. Simple? Uneventful? Perhaps for some.

But, in our little world tucked away from all the noise, this delightful twist not only brought pure joy to her heart but also showed a deeper understanding of the essence of creativity and the courage to defy norms.

Nature tends to categorize — a reindeer is just a reindeer, and a bear is merely a bear. However, when we dare to color outside the lines, a world of possibilities unfolds. It’s in these moments of spontaneous creativity that we see the unseen, discovering hidden dimensions not just in the world around us but within ourselves.

This simple, yet profound act of imagination is more than child’s play; it is a metaphor for life’s larger canvas. In challenging conventional perceptions, we uncover solutions to life’s complex riddles. It’s a journey of breaking free from societal constraints, whether they be social, spiritual, or emotional.

By not adhering strictly to what something is ‘supposed’ to mean, we open ourselves to what it could mean in the present moment. This perspective is vital for mental wellness and developing a growth mindset, empowering us to redefine our narratives and embrace our unique paths.

As we encourage our children to explore their imagination, we too learn to appreciate the beauty in divergent thinking. It reminds us that innovation often stems from the willingness to view the world through a different lens, to question, and to venture beyond the familiar.

Author Neil Gaiman encapsulates this beautifully: “The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.”

This holiday season, let us celebrate the magic of the unconventional. Let’s appreciate the bear in the reindeer, a snowman built only from frost-covered sticks, a Charlie Brown tree decorated with love and but void of a deep sea of presents, and the infinite potential in every moment of our lives. For it’s in these small acts of creativity and courage that we pave the way for new opportunities, perspectives, and a richer understanding of our world and ourselves.

My daughter taught me a valuable lesson that morning: our initial perceptions can transform if we pause and choose to see beyond the obvious, much like she chose to look beyond the antlers.