Very few non-fiction pieces make me cry, and yours genuinely made me tear up. I'm barely holding tears right now, haha.
I was around six when my mom read Peter Pan to me for the first time, and I remember being deeply fascinated by Peter's telling about how fairies began to exist. I thought twas the coolest thing ever. Looking back, I think I've always been a whimsy girl, but I let that part of me slowly die a few years ago. I dunno, I think I started to feel the pressure of society over me to "start growing up and not being so childish all the time." I was told that my fantasy world didn't exist, and of course I knew in a literal way it didn't, but I just wanted them to believe. To let themselves dwell in the magical possibilities of a whole new world ruled by us and only us. But they didn't. Instead, they tried to kill my inner child, and they almost did. If I weren't too much of a patriot, I fear they would have succeeded.
You just filled my heart with Hope, Joy and Wonder, so thank you so much for that. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. When I grow up, I want to stay a little girl, just like you did :) Because maybe, just maybe, Neverland is closer than we always thought. Perhaps the place where we never grow up has always been hidden in our hearts.
Oh, this comment just made my day. Thank you thank you. I dearly hope you continue to discover fairyland more every day.
Your story reminds me of the full quote by cs Lewis: “My Dear Lucy, I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”
An awesome explanation and exploration of whimsy! That opening was so vivid with the hollow post. That was such a good way to hook me in!
I fear I have lost a bit of whimsy in recent years. I still have an imagination, and I consider myself creative, but the actual day to day stuff has started to become a drag. This is a good reminder to let my imagination and eye for magic to bleed into my real world. Thank you!!!!
It’s part of adulthood, unfortunately. I aspire to be like my grandmother, who seems to have never grown up. And as my own daughter gets older I hope I can start doing little things to teach her about Whimsy, too.
The fence post is lovely, and the Montgomery quotes on point! I've felt the same about defining whimsy... it's an ethereal thing, hard to pin down. And sometimes I wonder if I have it all wrong, haha! But it rather reminds me of what I've been reading in my chemistry books (which I've been surprised to like XD) where some elements are rarely found in their pure form but are often mixed with other things. Whimsy is often found with romanticizing, joy, or wonder. But it takes the right heart posture to notice and practice it truly. Made of the same stuff as a whim or fancy. To be held lightly, as it is, like you said, fleeting. Quaint, even, according to the dictionary. Existing "just because" if for naught else. Rather akin to imagination, I think? Not quite the same as “magical” but similar. And a facet of God the Creator, perhaps.
Maybe I don't know what I'm rambling about after all... but then again, perhaps I do? Sometimes I find whimsy appears in different ways to different people, though at the core it’s the same. It’s tricky to explain when such things can not be bound by rules :))
I love how you touch on the fact that whimsy is rarely found alone. I agree that is falls in line with imagination! I'd argue you can't find it without a bit of imagination. It is tricky to explain, but that makes me love it all the more!
This was such a good read!! The distinction you draw between whimsy as an interior posture rather than an aesthetic choice felt honest! The fence post story especially stayed with me, not because it explains whimsy, but because it embodies it. This felt like a gentle defense of imagination itself, and it was a joy to read.
I didn’t originally have the fence post story in, but it came to me yesterday; it just felt like the most fitting opening! One of these days I’ll have to take a video and share the magic for you all to see 💫
This was absolutely delightful!! Can I send you something privately? I am not sure how, but I need to know how far off the mark I am for defining whimsy, as I, too, have fallen prey to the trend of using this wonderful word maybe to flippantly.
You did so well in telling stories of your childhood days, too.
I'm SO glad you put in a Anne quote!! I've always equated the word whimsical with her <3
Me too! I originally had all three quotes as hers… heheh🙈
Very few non-fiction pieces make me cry, and yours genuinely made me tear up. I'm barely holding tears right now, haha.
I was around six when my mom read Peter Pan to me for the first time, and I remember being deeply fascinated by Peter's telling about how fairies began to exist. I thought twas the coolest thing ever. Looking back, I think I've always been a whimsy girl, but I let that part of me slowly die a few years ago. I dunno, I think I started to feel the pressure of society over me to "start growing up and not being so childish all the time." I was told that my fantasy world didn't exist, and of course I knew in a literal way it didn't, but I just wanted them to believe. To let themselves dwell in the magical possibilities of a whole new world ruled by us and only us. But they didn't. Instead, they tried to kill my inner child, and they almost did. If I weren't too much of a patriot, I fear they would have succeeded.
You just filled my heart with Hope, Joy and Wonder, so thank you so much for that. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. When I grow up, I want to stay a little girl, just like you did :) Because maybe, just maybe, Neverland is closer than we always thought. Perhaps the place where we never grow up has always been hidden in our hearts.
Oh, this comment just made my day. Thank you thank you. I dearly hope you continue to discover fairyland more every day.
Your story reminds me of the full quote by cs Lewis: “My Dear Lucy, I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”
So well done. Thank you so much for this. Godspeed and keep on.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for reading!!
All you!
An awesome explanation and exploration of whimsy! That opening was so vivid with the hollow post. That was such a good way to hook me in!
I fear I have lost a bit of whimsy in recent years. I still have an imagination, and I consider myself creative, but the actual day to day stuff has started to become a drag. This is a good reminder to let my imagination and eye for magic to bleed into my real world. Thank you!!!!
It’s part of adulthood, unfortunately. I aspire to be like my grandmother, who seems to have never grown up. And as my own daughter gets older I hope I can start doing little things to teach her about Whimsy, too.
love this💛
Love YOU
The fence post is lovely, and the Montgomery quotes on point! I've felt the same about defining whimsy... it's an ethereal thing, hard to pin down. And sometimes I wonder if I have it all wrong, haha! But it rather reminds me of what I've been reading in my chemistry books (which I've been surprised to like XD) where some elements are rarely found in their pure form but are often mixed with other things. Whimsy is often found with romanticizing, joy, or wonder. But it takes the right heart posture to notice and practice it truly. Made of the same stuff as a whim or fancy. To be held lightly, as it is, like you said, fleeting. Quaint, even, according to the dictionary. Existing "just because" if for naught else. Rather akin to imagination, I think? Not quite the same as “magical” but similar. And a facet of God the Creator, perhaps.
Maybe I don't know what I'm rambling about after all... but then again, perhaps I do? Sometimes I find whimsy appears in different ways to different people, though at the core it’s the same. It’s tricky to explain when such things can not be bound by rules :))
I love how you touch on the fact that whimsy is rarely found alone. I agree that is falls in line with imagination! I'd argue you can't find it without a bit of imagination. It is tricky to explain, but that makes me love it all the more!
I was waiting for this one haha
I hope you enjoyed reading!
I know magic exists! Wonderful post, Sol!
Me too! Thank you <3
This was such a good read!! The distinction you draw between whimsy as an interior posture rather than an aesthetic choice felt honest! The fence post story especially stayed with me, not because it explains whimsy, but because it embodies it. This felt like a gentle defense of imagination itself, and it was a joy to read.
I didn’t originally have the fence post story in, but it came to me yesterday; it just felt like the most fitting opening! One of these days I’ll have to take a video and share the magic for you all to see 💫
This was so wonderfully written! And I know feel duly educated on *whimsy*!
I’m so glad! Thank you for reading ✨
This is my favorite~ 🤍
You’re my favorite!
So many great thoughts!
Thank you so much !
This was absolutely delightful!! Can I send you something privately? I am not sure how, but I need to know how far off the mark I am for defining whimsy, as I, too, have fallen prey to the trend of using this wonderful word maybe to flippantly.
You did so well in telling stories of your childhood days, too.
Loved reading this
Yes, please do! I’ll give any and all whimsy-related assistance 😄💫✨
This was a very sweet post, and very elegantly put! 🩵
Thank you Alice!