Do you remember when you were a kid and everywhere you went the floor turned into hot, steaming lava? Or when you were able to turn a few blankets and pillows into the world's greatest fort-mansion hybrid?

I remember all of that and more. What I don't remember is when playing pretend turned into a childish, pointless and "unreal" act.

Having an imagination is what sparked groundbreaking inventions and technology from the minds of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Artistic geniuses such as The Beach Boys and Andy Warhol wouldn't have moved people through their crafts without having a little creativity.

So when people tell you to "grow up" and stop daydreaming, I think you should keep doing what you're doing. Who gets to dictate what age you have to stop make believing?

Adults need a little imagination now and then because it can lead to many different health benefits as well as creating more self-discovery and boosting intelligence. According to the Huffington Post, "psychologists have theorized that individuals who have realized their full potential and purpose usually do it through their ability to imagine those possibilities first."

Using your imagination can improve your intellect by allowing yourself to create solutions to problems and perusing information-allowing you to learn more about any subject.

Playing pretend can also help relieve stress by releasing endorphins in your brain. This hormone helps your body feel well and gives you a sense of calm. As a college student, I find this to be a big relief. Personally, I like talk to myself (no matter how crazy I may sound).

So the next time you are bored, with nothing to do, play pretend. Avoid the cracks on the sidewalk to save your mother's backs. Act like your best friend is a yellow dinosaur that sits next to you on the city bus, and talk to yourself like no one's listening. Because make believe isn't just for children.

Take it from the expert on fantasy, Willy Wonka, "A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men."