Today’s Inkotober prompt is “Binoculars.”
When my daughters were small, I made binoculars for them using empty toilet paper rolls.
They loved those things. With those magic binoculars, we had a camping experience on our balcony and found plastic wild animals in our plants. We saw lions and rhinos at the Lion and Rhino Park and the tiniest of insects on blades of grass.
I was always a little nervous that they would reject their toilet roll binoculars in favor of real ones, but every time I brought out a pair for them, their little eyes lit up, and they were ready for an adventure.
I guess there are a few reasons I love that so much.
I love that young children can still see the wonders of the world. I love that all it takes is a little prop to get them engaged and exploring with all their might.
I also love that using toilet roll binoculars is kind of like faking it ’till you make it. It may have been their wholehearted belief that they were looking through real binoculars that made the activities come to life, or it may have been their willingness to go along with the pretense for the sake of the adventure.
It’s definitely worthwhile for adults to participate in. Faking it until you make it can give you the confidence of a three-year-old looking for wild animals on her balcony. Who knows, your next big idea could be behind a simple, cheap prop that helps to get you completely engaged in what you’re doing.
So, my advice? Find your version of the toilet roll binoculars and embark on a voyage of exploration in your life. Have fun! 🙂
