state of being, state of spring

A longitudinal fissure separates the human brain into two distinct cerebral hemispheres, connected by the corpus callosum. The sides resemble each other and each hemisphere's structure is generally mirrored by the other side. Yet despite the strong similarities, the functions of each cortical hemisphere are different...

On the left side--the side of my head dominated by a cubicle farm--stuff's getting lined up to get done. Woken up from what had to have been the worst case of cold-weather despair I've felt in years, my left brain is ready to kick some manuscript butt, some income butt, some tax butt, and some photographic butt. My left brain is tough-loving itself. My left brain is ready for stumps and puddles.

On the right side--the side of my head dominated by a grassy meadow--stuff's getting let go. Stuff that was turning my green, sun-washed open space into a black-clouded tangle. All the self-inflicted agony and doubt and thumbtack shoes, as much a part of the human condition as capillaries and pancreas. Fear and shame and all those stories about how I'm fraudulent and no good. It's irreconcilable stuff. And so rather than trying to convince it away I self-soothe, a mama to myself: Now, now, tangle. Sleep for a bit.

You know what happens when you let go? You make space. Space for the left side to organize the picnic, pitch the tents, and hang the paper lanterns. Space for new things to happen.

It's spring. May as well abandon all that thinking in favour of some good, simple doing. Roses on cheeks.

What's your state of mind? Patch together old or new photography to interpret your left and your right, right now.

Comments

[Marcie]

Such an interesting way to think about how our brains work.
Here's a little space:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2011/3/20/falling-petals.html
And here's a lot of left-brained order:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2011/3/17/spring-fever.html

[Puna]

This is a wonderful idea. I'm going to work on my own project today.

[Judith]

Wonderfully clever --- and accurate.
But since we are moving within three days, both my left and right brains are in high panic mode in their disparate manners.
Still, maybe your post will help me smile at the chaos ----

[lifeineden]

oh kate, how I love your brain. I'll see what I can muster today.

[Neil]

I'm attempting another method. Not sure if it will work. Letting the left brain become a bit of a dictator, and bossing the right brain to drop all the pity and get on board the speeding train before it derails. It's bound to fail, so then I will try your more humane plan. So, thanks.

[s.b.Lyngo]

How Fun! I love this exercise. Thanks for the challenge. Here's my right brain left brain fusion. :)
http://somethingblu.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/merging-left-right-brain-manifest-mondayftr/

[Shawna]

Alas, 10 cm of snow today and both sides of my brain are crying NOOOOO!!!!

[Kat]

Wow, this is timely. My right brain forced my left brain to make space this weekend by shutting things down. I turned off the computer and recovered... These pics are the result. I'm not quite sure what is right brained or what is left brained but I'm happier on both sides with the space created.
http://www.kateyeview.com/2011/03/learning-from-lulls.html

[Rebecca Weaver]

Great mind-joggler! Here's the dichotomy that is my brain right now: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trebecca84/5548231319/
Sometimes it can be inspiring to listen to what you're actually thinking!

[Chantal]

what a great, but difficult task for today...

[Anja]

Roses on cheeks, yes. My motto this spring, too. Isnpiring writing!