I am Left Brain. I am Right Brain.

I despise most advertising, geared as it is towards convincing us we are not enough, something about us is broken or missing or wrong, but if we buy “the thing,” we’ll suddenly and magically be forever happy and safe and young and rich and loved.

Even though I feel this way about advertising, sometimes there are ads that even I have to admit are wonderfully funny (I’m thinking of this Volkswagon ad from last year’s Super Bowl) or beautiful. This one, from Mercedes Benz, is beautiful–and kind of weird as an advertisement for a luxury car brand, (click on the image to read more and see a few other versions).

The text for the left brain reads:

“I am the left brain. I am a scientist. A mathematician. I love the familiar. I categorize. I am accurate. Linear. Analytical. Strategic. I am practical. Always in control. A master of words and language. Realistic. I calculate equations and play with numbers. I am order. I am logic. I know exactly who I am.”

And for the right brain:

“I am the right brain. I am creativity. A free spirit. I am passion. Yearning. Sensuality. I am the sound of roaring laughter. I am taste. The feeling of sand beneath bare feat. I am movement. Vivid colors. I am the urge to paint on an empty canvas. I am boundless imagination. Art. Poetry. I sense. I feel. I am everything I wanted to be.”

My fortune from yesterday’s lunch

Smart cookie.

Baby beaver

I hate the damage the adults do to the tree population at McMurray Ponds Natural Area, but this weekend, we saw one of the babies. So cute! Don’t believe me? Watch this video of a baby beaver in a bathtub.

Dog sighs

I love the noises dogs make when they are dreaming, or when they eat a carrot or an apple, but a dog sigh goes straight to my heart.

Owls

I’m kind of obsessed with owls lately. They symbolize wisdom, intelligence, and freedom. They are seen as oracles of secret wisdom and protectors of the dead, of souls and secrets and dreams. They are able to see things that are hidden, are shape shifters. They have a connection to the underworld, death, and the moon. If this blog had a mascot, an animal spirit guide, I imagine it would be an owl, most likely riding on the back of a dog.

Here’s a great color palette and picture from Design Seeds (a really fun site for all you color and design geeks).

I also love the work done by the woman behind Dou Dou Birds. I finally bought two of her owls, the new mascots for A Thousand Shades of Gray. Now, what to name them…

Some Things You Need to Know

This is from Marc and Angel.

Whenever somebody discredits you, and tells you that you can’t do something, keep in mind that they are speaking from within the boundaries of their own limitations. Ignore them. Don’t give in. In this crazy world that’s trying to make you like everyone else, find the courage to keep being your awesome self. And when they laugh at you for being different, laugh back at them for being the same.

Remember, our courage doesn’t always roar aloud. Sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering, “I will try again tomorrow.”

Calligraphy Links from Scoutie Girl

I am a calligraphy nerd, love the practice, so I loved these links.

“Getting it Up” from Zebra Sounds

Judy Clement Wall is one of my new favorite people. She is the instigator behind the new site A Human Thing, and also the author of Zebra Sounds. Her latest post, “Getting it up” is a really great kick in the pants for artists.

Add to the Love in the world – a challenge

From Unicorns for Socialism, ways to add more love to the world.

Memoryhouse, “Untitled”

Beautiful video, dreamy song.