What Happens to Our Brains in the Shower?

First, a word about this new blog. Years ago--before Facebook--I used to write passionate, well-informed :) letters to the editor of the Idaho Statesman (and even before that, the Dickinson Press). Well, it seems I am not the only one who thought they were passionate and well-informed, because even though it's over five years since I posted one, someone will occasionally still ask me why they haven't seen one from me in a long time. I tell them that it's probably because I post my rants on FB now. But this morning (in the shower) I realized I need to blog about my ideas. To the friend who chuckled when I put "activist" on my business card--this is what I meant. Something drives me to share my ideas and opinions. Maybe it's an art form. You create what you must, without regard for how it will be received.

Some of my blog ideas are about things that bug me; others will be simple musings and some will be about joy. I do like feeling and thinking about joy more and more as I age. I will, however, admit that one of my first memories of my mother when I was five or six is her asking me why I was so critical. "Why can't you be more cheerful and easy going like your brother, Larry, who goes around whistling?" I was too young to respond that I was born that way, so "Do tell, Mommy. Why was I born that way?" (Thanks, Gaga.) As I think about this now, I'd love to know what I was critiquing at the age of six.

So, back to the topic of this first blog: 
If we're Facebook friends, you already know I'm curious about why we have creative thoughts in the shower. Now, I could Google this question, and I probably will, but if I just posted a bunch of links here and the answers, then it wouldn't be "My Thoughts Entirely"--would it? Besides, no one really knows what happens in the brain, so I figure I'm as good a source on the topic as anyone.

Regardless of why we think creatively in the shower (lack of oxygen, nothing else to focus on, etc.) the reality is that we do. The question is whether we do anything with these epiphanies or simply get out, towel off and get on with our day in the same unenlightened fog as before our shower. We're all busy, so that's one reason we don't follow through. Or maybe it's because shower thoughts aren't taken any more seriously than dreams. Few of us shape our lives around either.

Here's what I think about shower thoughts: On our best days, we are motivated to act on the creative solutions that come to us. The days that we are rested, relaxed and healthy. When our stress levels are low, we feel enabled to make new and better things happen--we are hopeful. 

We've all heard about "smelling the roses". Way more useful (because let's face it--I'm a pragmatist) would be a catchy phrase encouraging people to "Act on your shower power". Oh, ouch. Well, you see I'll need help on this one.

Finally, about this blog in general, don't get the idea that I think my ideas are unique or in any way better than yours. I'm just taking the time to write them down so they don't drift away like last night's dream or wash down the drain like this morning's shower. I'd love your comments and your ideas as well!

Coming soon in my next blog: People are inefficient by nature.