INTRO: I do, I don’t, I will, I won’t, I can, I can’t, I should, I shouldn’t, and the tussle goes on and on in my brain. Colour versus black and white. Thoughts bounced from one side of my brain to the other like a ping-pong ball. Each side smashes the thoughts back and forward like it is a competition.
The challenge is to learn how to end the competition. Balance both sides of the brain so thoughts swish smoothly from side to side like water. Respecting both sides – logical and creative, as both complement each other. The colourful thoughts of the creative side blend with the black and white of the logical side to create the individual artwork of our lives. Beverley Joy.
PODCAST – The Tussle Between My Brain Muscles
My logical brain likes things neat and tidy
Old and known, comfortable and sensible
“If it’s new, if it’s original, FORGET IT!”
“New things are DANGEROUS.” It likes to tell me.
My creative brain is inquisitive and playful
It loves to see, hear, and smell new and interesting things
There exists a tussle between my brain muscles
My logical brain fights to win the race.
At work, our creative mind sits to one side
As our logical brain takes charge of our tasks
In a responsible and practical way
Which is good and is what we need to do.
My logical brain likes to check Facebook
Skim articles, like a friend’s post
Flick over to Twitter and Pinterest
To check my social media status.
I was a compulsive non-fiction reader
I’d finished one book, then start another
Feeding my logical brain with knowledge
Which is not bad, when kept in balance.
Now, once I’ve turned the last page, I take a day’s break
I spend a moment looking up from my phone
And engage my surroundings to hear, see and smell
To allow my creative brain to take a deep breath.
While we cook or garden or wash the car
Our creative mind cooks up thoughts
Digging up and watering new ideas
Solving problems that bubble up.
While we drive home, it drives home ideas
Plans emerge as we merge lanes on the freeway
Our creative mind wants to go on adventures
Sense and explore things of interest.
To feed your hungry creative mind
Travel a different way home next time
Stop to smell the fresh bread baking
Listen to the sounds of nature that surround you.
Be attentive to your life experiences
Don’t ignore them or be too busy and miss them
It’s when we’re not ‘doing’ creative ideas arise
Or solutions to problems flash before our eyes.
Visit a second-hand or antique store,
An art gallery, a museum, go, see a movie,
A walk on the beach, in a country or city garden,
Watching a sunrise or sunset, taste food that is foreign.
Kick a ball, shoot hoops, swing at the local park,
Skip, run, ride or swim
Fun things children do, that adults stop doing.
A little fun can go a long way
Toward balancing our logical and creative brains
Allowing time to flex our creative biceps
And relieve the tussle between our brain muscles.
So, while I hand wash the dishes, instead of mumbling
About what I should or should not have done
I wash those dishes with a fresh zing
Moving my thoughts to something creative.
Beverley Joy © 2022 of Simply Story Poetry. All Rights Reserved
You can listen to all my poems on several podcast platforms here
Image by Ermal Tahiri from Pixabay
Simply Story Poetry 
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