DW's Blog

Neurobic Exercise

by DW Green — May 3, 2023

Neurobics: mental exercises designed to create new neural pathways in the brain using the senses in unconventional ways.

I can attest to too many tests. Testing 1, 2, 3, 4…Therefore, I propose a simple brain exercise. Hmmm, I seem to misspell exercise every time I type it! Sometimes I mispell misspell. Anyway, not difficult exercises like brainteasers, riddles, conundrums or cross word puzzles. This is a simple neurobic exercise from a great book; Keep Your Brain Alive. 83 Neurobic Exercises to Help Prevent Memory Loss & Increase Mental Fitness. —Lawrence C. Katz, Ph.D., & Manning Rubin“Neurobics is a scientifically based program that helps you modify your behavior by introducing the unexpected to your brain and enlisting the aid of all your senses as you go through your day. An active brain is a healthy brain, while inaction leads to reduced brain fitness. Or in simpler terms—“Use it or loose it.”All of us have our morning rituals to get us quickly and “mindlessly” out the door. These set routines allow the brain to go on automatic pilot and be more efficient. And at bedtime, when we need to wind down from a day of mental and physical exertion, routines are similarly comforting.Because routines are so ingrained in our m...

by DW Green — April 26, 2023

Kindness increase’s one’s own true power without exacting any toll.

There’s much distress, conflict, distrust, anger, and fear, in America. And yet, there have been many examples of selflessness, heroism, courage, love and compassion during the pandemic. Same country. My prescription for the former is the root of the later. Kindness. Some might say that kindness is Pollyanna, naivete or even weakness. I disagree.Simple kindness to one’s self and all that lives is the most powerful transformational force of all. Kindness produces no backlash, has no downside, and never leads to loss or despair. Kindness increase’s one’s own true power without exacting any toll. But to reach maximum power, such kindness can permit no exceptions, nor can it be practiced with the expectation of some selfish reward. And its effect is as far reaching as it is subtle.

Read More – Miriam

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by DW Green — April 19, 2023

Let go, detach, and enjoy the flow.

Attachment is one of those awareness things. If you’re not aware of being attached to something, attachment just happens. But when you become aware that you’re attached to something, you can choose to remain attached or you can choose to detach yourself from it. Being attached to outcomes is particularly problematic. Why? Because you can’t control outcomes. One is responsible for the intention and effort but not the result, which is dependent on many other conditions and factors that are nonpersonal.It’s common to attach yourself to outcomes in an automatic and seemingly unconscious way. Notice where in life you are attached to the way something “should” be, whether that’s with people, circumstances, or yourself. By noticing when (not if) you are attached, you can consciously choose to detach, which frees you to:

Be your true self
Say what you truly feel
Allow others to be themselves

Detachment is freedom. This freedom is the “not knowing” or the field of uncertainty marked by:

Magic
Mystery
Adventure

It’s human nature to want to know how things will turn out. But, if you already know the ending, that’s no fun. Let go, detach, and en...

by DW Green — April 12, 2023

Music needs space (time) between notes in order to build rhythm and melody. Visual design needs space between elements in order to effectively communicate.

Advertising design is very subjective. An ad that looks good or bad to me often provokes the opposite reaction in someone else. To each his own, but keep in mind that design is a skill, it’s a discipline, an art. Much as a musician seeks to understand pitch and rhythm, melody and tempo, a designer seeks a greater understanding and control over:
Unity
Gestalt
Space
Dominance
Hierarchy
Balance
Color Part 1: Theory
Color Part 2: How to Use ColorFor example, whitespace or negative space is the space between design elements. It’s just as important than the space you fill and is one of the most neglected components of visual design.Day only exists in comparison to night and in much the same way your positive space (where design elements are located) only exist in comparison to the empty space around them. Without whitespace, designs become crowded and chaotic. There’s no flow of movement from one element to the next.Space is the context in which your message is perceived. Without ample space communication is difficult. Imagine a piece of music where every note ...

by DW Green — April 5, 2023

What we need to learn comes when we need it.

Reflecting on the wisdom of others is a very meaningful activity for me. My wish is you will find value in doing so too.An excerpt from Mark Nepo’s excellent book, The Book Of Awakening.Repetition is Not Failure. Ask the waves, ask the leaves, ask the wind.By Mark Nepo“There is no expected pace for inner learning. What we need to learn comes when we need it, no matter how old or young, no matter how many times we have to start over, no matter how many times we have to learn the same lesson. We fall down as many times as we need to, to learn how to fall and get up. We misunderstand the many voices of truth as many times as we need to, to truly hear the diversity that surrounds us. We suffer our pain as often as necessary for us to learn how to break and how to heal. No one really likes this, of course, but we deal with our dislike in the same way, again and again, until we learn what we need to know about the humility of acceptance.”

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Sign Of The Times

by DW Green — March 22, 2023

Sign design should reflect the purpose, meaning and personality of the store’s brand.

The ole maxim “Signs Sell” is true! But then I guess that’s what a maxim is, an expression of a general truth or principle. In truth, however, the maxim should read “A well-designed sign with thoughtful and intentional copy sell a lot!” Aside from the obvious sign ingredients like product description, price point, accurate spelling, product benefits and so worth, the sign design should reflect the purpose, meaning and personality of the store’s brand. Otherwise you are missing a tremendous opportunity to reinforce the unique benefit of your store to your customers. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a well-designed sign is worth a thousand sales.

Literal

by DW Green — March 8, 2023

Design is the opposite of literal. Good design is imaginative, dynamic, and energetic.

Sometimes with design work, retailers prefer designs that literally reflect the subject they represent. According to the ole dictionary, literal is defined as the strict meaning of the word or words, not figurative or metaphysical. To construe words in the strict or in an unimaginative way; matter-of-fact; dull; prosaic. So basically, the word literal refers to the use of words. The problem is that design goes beyond the specific definition of the word or words, good design also conveys feeling and emotion. Grocery shopping is more than a grocery cart. A new or remodeled store is more than new fixtures, new floors and new décor. Design is the opposite of literal. Good design is imaginative, dynamic, and energetic. Good design builds an emotional connection between your customers and your brand. We recently updated a store logo for a client. The new design created a clean, comfortable, and captivating look and feel. The design brought energy and an aliveness to the brand. In a word, Amazing!