Discovering the way you think.

The festive season is quickly drawing to a close.
Yesterday was spent with family, and the gift giving was delayed till after lunch. We were so caught up in conversation and catching up that we had not even thought of the gifts under the tree.
It was our first Christmas with all the family living in the one state, rather than across the country.
Lots to catch up on.

As for the gifts, my brother had received a word card game.
Participants must guess a mystery word, based only on descriptions given by the card holder who knows the word, but cannot use typical or familiar phrases or other words to describe it.
A bit like Pictionary, without the pictures - verbal descriptions are used instead.

Well, we all discovered just how different our way of thinking was. We all struggled, and realised how much we took some of these words for granted. That is, we simply used them in conversation as though everyone understood the given word in any context.
Imagine describing 'Crystal' without being able to say "clear", Chandelier, Cut, Glass, or sand.
My first thought when I learned what the word was salt or sugar (crystals). All very well in hindsight!

When it came my sister-in-law's turn, she was far more articulate and we eventually claimed the answer within the time limit of the game.

Me?
Hmmm.
I made an interesting rediscovery.
Not a new realisation. Just a reaffirming of something I had long known.
I cannot seem to think in words.
Weird, huh!
A writer who does not think in words.
I had my card in front of me, and had the target word I had to describe, and the 5 key words I was not allowed to use in my description to assist in the clues.
For the life of me, all I could do was see this picture, bright, bold and colourful.
No words came to me, to describe the one word I hoped my family would guess.
Struggled.

I later learned when having a conversation with my brother, that I could not recall the name of the Television program I wanted to talk about with him. I knew the key word "Sea..." and I could very plainly see in my mind's eye the actors, the scenery of the introduction to the program. Could not even recall the name of the actors. Could only recall one of the other programs the female lead had previously been in.

I think in pictures.
Elaborate and very emotionally colourful pictures.

It's fascinating, when we think, how we think, to realise that we use this skill of recall to conduct conversation, business and social interactions.
Perhaps there is some scientific explanation for the differences in the way the brain selects the information it draws upon when we ask ourselves to sift through and find the right words.

For me, I simply rejoice in the fact that when a client asks me to produce copy, the gift I have been given lets me capture the essence of those wonderful mind pictures I see, and turn it into powerful copy.

Enjoy the way you think.
It is a gift.