Daily Quote for May 16, 2025 | Abraham-Hicks

The Lost Art of Exhilaration: What a 1999 Quote Reminded Me About Imagination

In the vast, often overwhelming digital landscape, we scroll through countless words daily. Most fade into the background, part of the relentless hum of information. But every so often, a phrase appears that cuts through the noise, a simple utterance that resonates with surprising depth. This happened to me recently, encountering a snippet from a Google AdSense post, dated July 7th, 1999, from Spokane, WA, signed by “Esther (and Abraham and Jerry).”

The words themselves are deceptively simple:

“The little ones still remember how to use the power of their imagination. They are still engaged in the utilization of their imagination—that is one of the reasons that keeps them so exhilarated.”

This small, almost forgotten observation, plucked from over two decades ago, offers a profound insight into a joy we often lose touch with as adults. It speaks directly to the inherent magic and boundless energy that flows from an unfettered mind, particularly in childhood.

Think about a child absorbed in play. A cardboard box isn’t just packaging; it’s a spaceship, a castle, a secret hideout. A stick isn’t just kindling; it’s a magic wand, a sword, a fishing rod. Their worlds are not bound by logic or practicality but by the sheer, unadulterated power of “what if.” This deep, immersive engagement with their inner worlds is precisely what Esther notes keeps them “so exhilarated.” It’s not just fleeting happiness; it’s a profound, sustained state of wonder and excitement, a constant stream of new possibilities and adventures. Their imaginations are not a passive pastime but an active, vital force driving their joy and discovery.

As we grow older, the world, with its responsibilities, rules, and pressures, often nudges us away from this imaginative state. We trade the boundless landscapes of our minds for the often-linear paths of career, bills, and adulting. “Practicality” becomes the watchword, and daydreaming is often seen as a distraction or even a weakness. We learn to filter out the absurd, to dismiss the impossible, and to focus on the tangible. Slowly but surely, the vivid colors of childhood imagination begin to fade, replaced by the more muted tones of reality. And with that fading, often goes a piece of that intrinsic, unburdened exhilaration.

But what if we reconsidered imagination not as a childish relic, but as a powerful, essential tool for adult life? Re-engaging with our imagination doesn’t mean escaping reality entirely; it means enriching it. It’s about finding creative solutions to vexing problems, envisioning new possibilities for our careers or relationships, or simply finding moments of mental escape and joy in a stressful world. Imagining brighter futures, brainstorming innovative ideas, or simply allowing our minds to wander without judgment can rekindle that sense of wonder and, yes, that very exhilaration Esther observed in children.

Perhaps Esther, Abraham, and Jerry, in their message from 1999, offered us more than just a passing thought. They delivered a timeless reminder: the power to be exhilarated, to find joy in everyday existence, lies within our own minds. It’s not something we achieve through external factors alone, but something we cultivate by remembering to engage, just as “the little ones” still do, with the limitless potential of our own imaginations. Let’s unearth that lost art, embrace the “what ifs,” and allow ourselves to be exhilarated once more.

[Reference]:

The little ones still remember how to use the power of their imagination. They are still engaged in the utilization of their imagination—that is one of the reasons that keeps them so exhilarated.

Excerpted from Spokane, WA on 7/7/99

Our Love,
Esther
(and Abraham and Jerry)