Creativity: It's Not Dead!

Every time I visit home in Oklahoma, I'm amazed by the creativity of my grandparents (unfortunately my grandmother's paintings aren't on there, but I can assure you, they're beautiful!).

Every time I visit, I forget how good it feels to make something. There's something a bit strange about a graduate program in a physical science. In my experience, it kills creativity. It kills art. It teaches you to think rationally, to consider each word carefully, and to substantiate each point with evidence. How can you let your imagination run wild in an environment like that? Why can't we all be allowed to be silly?

Every time I visit home, my imagination is given a free pass to run wild. It is bliss. I can create. I can make. It doesn't even have to be a real thing; abstract, and I'm not talking about the kind at the top of a scientific paper, is allowed! Intangible thoughts are encouraged. I really ought to thank my grandparents for giving me (and everyone in the family) the opportunity to make, create, play, and let their imaginations run wild.

Back to grad. school, committing to a PhD program is more than designing, executing, and completing a research project. You can't "run hot" and maintain your mental and physical health.

So how can I instill that openness of creating, making, imagining?

I've invested $100 into sculpting supplies, $50 into music supplies, and $25 into writing supplies. This time, grad. school won't take away my creativity.

Here's my Anhinga's first day:

For those of you who don't know what an Anhinga is. It's a silly bird: