So I’ve had two and a half weeks off now as Cupe15 is still on strike and during this hiatus, I’ve noticed something: a change. I’ve become more creative. Ideas are now coming to me very freely and easily. Without the inconvenience of commuting and pressing shirts and slacks and having to get to bed at a reasonable hour and of course the ‘work’ part of work, I have become more creative.

Why? I’m looking into that. I’ve been doing a lot of reading for a longer piece I’m developing for this blog about the reptilian brain (primitive survival instinct, territory defending, aggression, dreams) and it’s incredible influence over us, and also more interestingly its fight for control and self-preservation from the threat of the cortex, I’ve learned that the higher functions of your brain are suppressed when in a state of either fear or stress – during those times the reptilian steps in and takes control while your cortex sits on the bench.

So my having almost 3 weeks to shake the cobwebs associated with going to work, am now getting the cortex into the action. Not much stress, my own hours, no late night ironing. Hey cortex, welcome back. It’s been a while – hope you can stick around.

So what does that say for folks who spend much of every day running around in the grind all for only two or three weeks of vacation? How much cortex work is being done? How much of their potential is not being realized because they are using their resources to merely get by or get through the day.