The Right Side of My Brain was Right
I’m Ba-a-a-ck!
What happened to me? Well, I woke up one day to discover that the right side of my brain had gone on strike, literally… it was totally burnt out and was refusing to create anything until its demands were met.
I don’t know about you, but I need both sides of my brain.
The left side is good at paying bills and managing the budget… and other everyday things like that, but it’s useless when it comes to crafting, decorating, and making garden art.
Thank goodness that the left side of my brain kept its head though… or I would have seriously panicked at the thought of maybe never having another creative idea ever again.
Here are my right brain’s demands.
1) No thrifting every single day at lunch hour. Sometimes it just needs to eat lunch… and daydream.
I agreed to 1 or 2 days a week.
2) No more bringing home a thrifted thingy unless it has an idea for it when I see it. It can’t dream up something fabulous for every discarded thing on the planet. It’s too much pressure.
I agreed to try my best, but made no promises.
3) No more working on 10 or more projects at a time. It cannot dream in multi-screen.
I agreed to a max of 2 or 3.
4) No more living in a master bedroom that has become the place where all projects without a home end up. A cluttered room makes for cluttered dreams.
I agreed, and made some donations to my favourite thrift stores.
5) No more spending beautiful summer days inside sitting in front of the computer while it could be outside lounging on the back deck listening to the birds and smelling the flowers… and daydreaming.
I agreed. I’ll try to stick to evenings and bad weather days.
6) It needs more time for reading and writing, the old fashioned way.. with book in hand, and pen and paper. Dreaming comes naturally from both.
I happily agreed.
7) It’s tired of creating things that never get shared anywhere with anyone. It needs me to have more courage, and dream bigger.
I agreed to try.
8) I have to stop bringing home orphaned things from the dump, no matter how fabulous they are.
I reluctantly agreed, but this is a tough one for me. I see so many amazing things that people take to our local landfill and it literally pains me. Don’t people know there are Restores and thrift stores that would take this great stuff? Our landfill only has a few years left, but unfortunately I don’t have the space to rescue everything that shouldn’t be there. Oh, I need strength for this one.
9) No more bringing home every little thing (or big) that I see at thrift stores or garage sales just because it’s pretty… no matter what a great deal it is. Too much pretty can become pretty ugly.. and is not a good environment in which to dream.
I agree, and I agreed. Restraint be thy middle name.
The right side of my brain drove a hard bargain.
But after a week of very tough negotiations, followed by a week of adjusting to these demands, and then a week off on a much needed staycation… I’m recharged, and re-energized.
Apparently the right side of my brain just needs to spend more time sitting around and dreaming… and that’s totally OK with me. When it’s unhappy… I’m unhappy, and the left side of my brain is very unhappy. It doesn’t function well when the right side is having a meltdown… and neither do I.
Now we’re all happy and have been busy on my master bedroom makeover, some new garden projects, and a few other odds and sods.
Here’s a pic of just one of the things I’ve been working on. This is the before of the master bedroom sleigh bed, which has already had its makeover.
I’ll be posting it later this week and showing some master bedroom progress.
Thanks so much for reading.
It’s so good to be back with my brain fully armed again… and dangerous. lol.
Spread some right brain fabulousness somewhere today, and smile.
We are glad you're back!!!
Glad your brain sides are in sync again! I can totally relate to every demand stated. I am excited to see your bedroom reveal and it's definitely nice to see you back!
Amen, Sister! I love going to garage sales on Saturday mornings in the summer because it relaxes me. But in addition, I have also had to adopt a Restraint Rein on my grabby hands. Just because it is beautiful and a good price does not mean it has to come home with me. Because you're right: TOO much pretty can become pretty ugly…. and hard to navigate!
Thank you for sharing your diagnosis! I too have been suffering many of the same symtoms and like you have been re-evaluating and taking a break. I have even been trying some of your solutions (or should I say "prescriptions"?) I'm slowly on the road to recovery. I especially like the thought of a "real book and pen and paper". Computers and tablets are great but just aren't the same. Enjoy the new found energy and creativitiy! And thanks for the sense of humor. You always make me smile.
Been there. Done that. It's a constant battle to stay on track, but I'm doing so much better. I do, however, stick to the Kindle for reading most of the time–unless it's a crafty book. For me, those books need to be paper still. I'm still decluttering, but spending less time shopping has helped with that issue.
I spent much of yesterday sitting on the porch reading. Got the relaxing part down anyway!
You're right about that Barbara. It is a constant battle, and one that I hope I can win. Good for you on getting where you are. I'll be enjoying some deck time with my reading this summer too. I've decided that it's no longer a luxury… it's a necessity. I have to say that I need to feel a book in my hands, and the pages between my fingers, but that's just me. I'm an old school kind of girl, but if the Kindle is what works for you more power to you. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Tuula 🙂
I understand! Boy do I understand! I'm glad you and your brain came to an understanding. Welcome back! I can't wait to see your bedroom makeover. It will make a big difference in how you feel…no more unfinished projects in there! It's not a dumping ground… (preaching to myself here 🙂
Totally get it! I have been having similar conversations with myself, it's way too hard to say no sometimes but I have been shopping my house for recent projects and discovered I have a treasure trove of things
Totally get it Tuula. Glad you are getting away from the computer and out to smell the roses and soak up some sun. Enjoy.
Kris
I'm with you 100 percent and this is the best time of year to do whatever you wish! So many of my blogging friends have gone by the wayside for whatever reason and I am so glad you've figured it out and are back! Your poetic talent is so adorable and I love that you could put it in verse!
I missed you but have been doing the same thing as you have. The master is clean – under the bed and the closets. All quilts and vintage linens have been soaked and washed. If they do not fit into the linen trunk, they go out the door. I spend time swimming laps and sitting looking at the clouds. I have returned to writing in my sorely neglected journal. I feel like a whole person again – how about you?
Hahaha…this is great. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has conversations with herself. Yours was way more productive than mind ever are though!
-andi