If there was one thing I was certain of as a child, it was this: the world inside my head was infinitely better than the one outside. Reality came with too many rules, uncertainties, and expectations that I wasn’t sure how to meet. I was captivated by people I didn’t know—strangers—but terrified to enter the real world where they lived and played. Something had traumatized me, and I’m still not exactly sure what made me so afraid. However, one thing I felt certain of was that in my imagination, I was limitless, bold, and understood.
I created an empire in my mind, where I crafted worlds from stray thoughts and populated entire cities with imaginary friends who never questioned my silence or my tendency to linger at the edges of conversations without speaking. They simply existed, always ready for adventure at a moment’s notice. In their world, I was never shy, never uncertain, and never struggling to find the right words. I was the hero.
Real life was trickier. I moved through school like a shadow—always present, but I felt I was never fully seen. The classroom buzzed with other children’s activities, a whirlwind of voices, while I seemed content to watch and listen. Deep inside, however, I longed to be bold enough to join in. But when it came time to participate, my words caught in my throat, as if they weren’t meant to be spoken aloud.
Adults labeled me as “quiet.” My teachers praised my ability to focus but nudged me toward “participation” as if it were a secret code I hadn’t yet figured out. I had a few friends, but they were the ones who were bold and self-assured, unaffected by my silence.
Yet, my quiet existence wasn’t solely filled with loneliness; it was also a magical cocoon where I could dream without limits, where stories unfolded exactly as I wanted them to. Though I didn’t realize it at the time, that quiet world I created would become the foundation for everything I would write, create, and imagine for years to come.
Q&A
1. Did you ever create a world inside your imagination as a child? What did it look like?
2. Was there a moment when you realized you were “different” from the other kids—quieter, more observant, or lost in thought? How did that shape you?
3. When adults encouraged you to “come out of your shell,” did you feel understood, or did it make you retreat further?
4. Have the things you imagined as a child—your stories, your dreams—continued to influence the way you think today?
5. If you could revisit a childhood memory where your imagination felt most alive, what moment would you choose?
Share your thoughts in the comments! What childhood moments shaped your creativity and sense of self? Let’s reminisce together.
The shy bubble has burst but left the world of imagination to thrive!
Ledia Runnels (Not the slightest bit shy anymore!) 💕
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In the summertime of old 
Creative Musings of Ledia Runnels 