Two brains. That’s right, I have two brains. So do you. The difference is you have a bundle of nerves called the corpus callosum between the two halves of your brain that lets the sides chat. My brain doesn’t have that. It’s true that my brain, or brains, have a very difficult time talking to each other.
For a horse, this means I have to be trained to do things from both sides. What might be easy for me to understand through my left eye may be difficult to understand through my right eye. It’s a pain, but it’s the price I pay for having eyes on the sides of my head like a prey animal.
Humans can have binocular vision, so you can see things with both sides of your brain. That means your left brain hemisphere, the logical, linear, thinking side, can analyze things and explain that to the right, more artistic, big picture, emotional side. That corpus callosum is very handy, as long as it’s working.
When humans are under extreme stress, the corpus callosum shuts down. Communication stops. That means you could get stuck in responding to the situation from only one side of your brain. If it’s the logical side, you’ll probably analyze the situation and handle it without emotion. If it’s the emotional side that takes over, you may find yourself hysterical or locked up and frozen. Speech is located in the left, logical side, and if the emotional side takes over, that’s why you get tongue-tied if you get upset. Have you noticed that when you’re stressed and can’t think of what to say, but then calm down and the corpus callosum starts working again, suddenly the perfect words for that snappy comeback show up in your mind? Frustrating, isn’t it?
If you have a plan to handle a situation, you’ll strongly trend toward the logical side of your brain, where plans and analyzing resides. That’s why it is so helpful to have a PLAN before you get in that stressful position.
Do you have a plan? What situations might show up in your life where a plan would be of value? I suggest you make that plan NOW, while you’re relaxed and both sides of your brain are functioning together!
I have a plan to move to higher ground behind the barn the next time we have a flood. I’m not worried because I know how to get there. I’ve looked at the route with both eyes, so both halves of my brain know the way.
How about you? Do you know the way?
Love, Your Friend, Moshi
Thank you to all of you who sent your ideas about where the cat hid my stuffed toy friend, Lobby the Lobster. I’ve not found him yet, but I think we’re getting closer.
Some of you said you thought he was on the roof. Rhett got a ladder and climbed up to check but Lobby wasn’t there. We also checked on top of the refrigerator, under the furniture, in the hay loft of the barn, and by the pond. I can see the cat laughing behind her paw, so I know she has him well hidden. I’m practicing staying calm, and not letting her get under my fur. But it’s tough.
She purred another poem today…
“Cotton lobsters don’t taste so good
but that’s not why you miss him
Sun and stars make up his hood
but rain will never kiss him.
Finding Lobby is so hard
because you’re not a bipedal
Ask friend Jane or maybe Ruth
to open something metal.”
What do you think? Do you have an idea? I’m going to gather up all my friends and see if we can find Lobby! Moshi said to have a plan, so we’re going to plan our search. It’s great to have friends to help!
Would you like to help? Send your dog over, and we’ll add him or her to the pack!
Love, Agent KK9, Indy
Jane Savoie
1174 Hill St ext.
Berlin, VT 05602
Jane’s Website
DressageMentor.com