I couldn’t sleep last night so I did what I usually do. I went into the guest bedroom and turned on talk radio. Coast to Coast AM to be more specific. X-Files meets late night radio. I love listening to George Noory. Listening to stories about government conspiracy theories, aliens, alternate dimensions, ghosts, shadow people, and generally being tuned in to some far out and frequently implausible ideas is best done in the dark of the night. Without waking my husband up.
Last night George had a call from an eleven year old boy named Robert… up in the middle of the night somewhere.
When he said he wanted to be a time traveler, George asked him if he would like to go back in time or to travel somewhere into the future. Without hesitating, Robert said he wanted to go back in time for sure.
So, I’m lying there thinking to myself, “he’s going to say he wants to go back to the Wild West or back to the time of the dinosaurs.” He’s an eleven year old boy, right?
What would you do? Travel to the future? Go way back in time to an age you’ve always wanted to see? Chances are you would think of historical times that you are a little bit familiar with, right? Like King Edwards court. Or, back to the days of the tall ships and the exploration of the new world. Or, you might go back to a specific time and attempt to change history… like back to the Kennedy assassination.
And if you could go to the future, chances are you would picture the future based on some Hollywood influenced version of space and future generations. Or you might go the future to see if we saved the planet or to bring back a cure for cancer, or HIV, or some other horrible disease.
And this is how we get stuck thinking inside the box. History has been recorded so we think in terms of what we’ve been taught or in terms of what others thought. The future has been imagined over and over and those stories influence us.
Guess where Robert wanted to go?
He wanted to go back in time before the big bang. I think he surprised George too.
When George asked him what he would expect to find there, Robert said, “I have no idea, that’s why I want to go.” An eleven year old boy taught me a lot last night.
A young boy who I think is the epitome of the innovative thinker. His brain didn’t take him to the familiar or already imagined, it took him somewhere way outside the box. I’ve been thinking about it all day. What would I do? Where would I go?
What would you do? Where would you go? Do you see what I mean about thinking outside the box? I’d love to read your comments below!
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Great Question, Theresa! The first response that came to my mind was the 40-years in the desert with the Israelites; to the current day location of the current “war”.
I really think your blog is great & I’ve only just begun to look. Your friend Barbara Starley sent me here. And thanks to the 11-year old who is already thinking outside the box!
Char
Hi Char!
Thank you so much for your visit and for leaving a comment! It’s great to meet you… I know any friend of Barbara’s is a good friend to know!
Wow! Back to the 40 years in the desert… that is really creative and fascinating. There is so much speculation about the dates, the route… on and on. Wouldn’t it be amazing to actually witness? Isn’t this fun to think about?
I love your answer to the question. You’ve really inspired me to think about an incredible time in history. And, to think about how it might compare to today.
Thanks Char!
~Theresa
I admire that young boy for his courage!
That subject has been brought up to me a number of times but I don’t have the courage to go back or to be shoot up in the future. But if in case, it’s a must, I must come up with a place or time to where I must go. Past or future? hmmm
bendedspoon recently posted..I was taught that the human brain was the crowning glory of evolution so far- but I think it’s a very poor scheme for survival
Me too! Especially because that young boy is going into the unknown. Or the unknowable? What will he find? Will he even exist?
Where will you discover courage like this? Anything is possible…
~Theresa
Excellent story Theresa. Children (and dogs in my case) are our best teachers and gurus. It makes me sad that his mind will be made into vanilla by the time he finishes high school. If he is unlucky enough to attend college -esp well regarded ones- he will come out completely robed of his creative spirit. I hope Im wrong…fingers crossed
Dino Dogan recently posted..Video Blogging Quickstart Guide
Hey Dino! Welcome! So glad you stopped by… didn’t I just see you on Facebook? … thanks for the invite to connect… lol, gotta LOVE social media!
You know, I hope you’re wrong too about this boy’s creative spirit. I know what you mean about minds being turned into vanilla. That’s one of the reasons I have my blog and write about this stuff all the time. Sometimes we have to re-learn how to think.
It’s so great you visited here. Thanks a million for your comment!
~Theresa
I often call it unlearning…and yes..Phil Lusted made me aware of you…I want us to start some cool cross pollination stuff which is why I started that FB group…anyways…we’ll chat soon
Dino Dogan recently posted..Video Blogging Quickstart Guide
Yeah… I have got to check out your FB group. I’ll make sure I do that this week. Phil has been a great friend. It’s great to meet other bloggers! Looking forward to learning more!