Some of the secret joys of living are not found by rushing from point A to point B, but by inventing some imaginary letters along the way.

Pagels contrasts a purely goal-driven life (“rushing from point A to point B”) with a more imaginative, meandering way of moving through time. The “imaginary letters” suggest detours we create—small rituals, playful narratives, side projects, conversations, or moments of attention—that are not strictly necessary for reaching an endpoint but make the journey meaningful. The quote argues that joy is often indirect: it arises from curiosity, invention, and presence rather than efficiency. Implicitly, it critiques modern haste and productivity culture, proposing that fulfillment depends on how we travel, not merely where we arrive.