Here is a thing no one warned me about getting older: you can legitimately, actually start losing your imagination.

I read books like I breathe air. I practice multiple creative pursuits almost daily. I am lucky enough to have pretty good mental health. But... (1/?)

I& #39;m no longer able to visualize imaginary scenarios in vivid detail like I did as a teen. I can still construct them, but it takes effort. The images are blurry and difficult to hold onto.

Once, I could lay in bed and imagine a full story. Now, I get stuck on one scene. (2/?)

It is literally like starting to go blind, but in my brain. And it& #39;s friggin& #39; terrifying, especially for a creative person. I& #39;ve done everything I can to keep my childlike imagination alive, but it& #39;s slowly seeping away like my brain sprang a leak. (3/?)

Related: after about age 21 or so, writing got a lot harder for me. Words used to pour out of me, and writing was an immersive, joyous discovery. Now, most of the time, it& #39;s work. I& #39;ve gone from magicking worlds into existence, to building them out of legos. (4/?)

I guess this thread is mostly to say:

1. If you& #39;re still in the "words pour out" phase, write like crazy. Save all your ideas. They may not be a bottomless resource.

2. If you& #39;re a creative and you& #39;ve also experienced this stupid, awful phenomenon, you& #39;re not alone. (5/5)