Right Brains Love A Snow Day

Last week, we had a snow day. Not just a bit of slippy ice but a proper can't-move-the-car, no-chance-of-getting-to-school, thank-God-we-went-shopping-already kind of snow day. At least two feet of snow and precipitation still falling. 

So after a lazy lie-in followed by a bit of sledging and snow angels, the kids and I snuggled under our biggest blanket with a mountain of snacks and watched back-to-back DreamWorks movies.  

Thanks to my many years experience of being able to block out child-related noises (whining, squabbling, tinny music... you know the kind of thing) I was able to perch a giant sketchbook on the arm of the sofa and doodle out a few ideas, I had been desperately trying to generate for the past couple of weeks. 

You see, I recently moved out of my home-office into a rented office in a shared building (run by The Message Trust in Sheffield). Somehow, the newly painted, echo-ey, white walls had simply stared back at me when I tried to bounce a few ideas off them. Nor had staring at an empty Word doc on a screen generated any germs of genius. 

It was the white blanket of the snow day that finally gave me the space the ideas needed to form. Apparently, a creative idea doesn't like to be squeezed out on a schedule. It doesn't respond well to a 'to-do' list or bossy command. I wonder if ideas are like divas, emerging onto an empty stage with an expectant audience where they know they'll be receive the maximum appreciation?

All I know is that in my office, I switch my left brain on with the computer and once that's engaged, it's hard to switch back over to right brain - the creative one where ideas are born. When I had my office at home, I would sit in the conservatory for creative time then physically switch rooms to the one with computer, to make those ideas reality. 

It took a snow day to remind me that my right brain needs space, rest and calm. It loves a snow day! 

I wonder if it's the same when I need to hear God? Just a thought. 

Joanne Gilchrist is mother of 3 and runs the charity, Ruach Resources, which is the home of God for Kids app and the Animals of Eden Valley children's books. She also wrote the autobiographical "Looking for Love", "Next Steps to Following Jesus" for children and freelances for the SunScool app.