My imagination has been very important to me all my life. It has provided a constant balance to the realities of day to day living and given me inspiration to become the person I always wanted to be.
As a child, I could imagine a tree fort to be a medieval castle; a stick was my sword and a tall tree a fierce dragon. Dreams like these were fueled by stories in books, movies, and television shows that conjured up faraway places, magical adventures, and fantastic creatures.
As a young man, my imagination began to include more real life dreams. I imagined myself sailing around the world, hiking the Appalachian Trail, or running the Iron Man Triathlon. Not all my dreams came true, but my imagination pushed me to enjoy many hours sailing a windsurfer; become an skilled outdoorsman; and work to be a better runner, biker, and swimmer. Other dreams were more realistic such as ones including a wife, a family, and a career that I was fortunate to realize.
Today, as a person without sight, my imagination is more important than ever. I can picture the layout of a train station, the positions of the pieces of a chess game, or how a person might look based on the sound of their voice and the things they say. I can imagine the endless possibilities of accessibility using computer technology and the help for a cure with modern medical science.
As an artist, I use my imagination to picture the beauty of a famous painting through detailed description or the powerful lines of a sculpture based on its feel. I can create my own sculptures by remembering the bright colors and the surrealistic imagery of a parrot fish swimming through an underwater coral reef, the brilliance of the sun rising over the ocean horizon, or the beauty of a woman brushing her long hair. . I can also mix reality with fantasy to create a cubist winged dragon using clay or a unicorn with steel wire.
I use my imagination every day in many different ways. Sometimes to complete simple or complicated tasks, other times to escape some of the less pleasant realities and responsibilities of being an adult, and still other times to dream of things that could be in my future. I imagine that without my imagination, life would be harsh, dull, and uninspired.
Mike Gieschen
Blind Artist
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