Post, the third -- "You know a dream is like a river, ever changin' as it flows. And a dreamer's just a Vessel that must follow where it goes." -Garth Brooks

brain, courtesy google image search

this week i got the opportunity to hear from Dr. Ed Vessel, a research scientist from NYU who studies neuroaesthetics/why people respond the ways they do to various art forms and how their responses might relate to other behaviors.

as i was sitting in Dr. Vessel's lecture on wednesday night, i found it difficult to focus on what he was saying, not because it wasn't interesting or because he was a poor speaker, i just couldn't keep my mind from wandering.

i thought back to a few years ago when i was immersed in this science world, preparing myself to do the whole med school thing, and wondered if i would be understanding him any better if i'd remained there.

i've spent a  lot of time questioning my decision to pursue art and before that, i spent a long time making the actual decision.

for the last few years i've noticed that i can't make it through an entire concert, play, gallery opening, whatever, without feeling a bite of jealousy somewhere in the middle of it.

i've always admired doctors and what they do for people, but i've always envied artists.

i envy their courage to take a chance on themselves.

they really take a leap of faith but it seems like whenever it matters, i have a terrible fear of heights.

so i wonder, am i being selfish in my pursuit of art?

should i be pushing through chem and bio classes to get to med school?

at the risk of sounding too cliché, i feel full when i do art, any art; i just love the work.

my premed track made me feel scattered and uneasy, so shouldn't i be doing the thing that makes me glad, thankful, excited to be alive?

art brain, courtesy google image search

i question this choice every day.

why though?

why do we feel guilty for doing the things we love?

why should we ever feel like we're letting humanity down if we do something that makes us happy when it's really humanity that's letting us down if they do anything less than encourage our bliss.

isn't that our job? to make each other happy, to support each other and to make life worth all of the inevitable bumps and scrapes and bruises we get along the way?

"the stars are so big, the earth is so small, stay as you are"; that's what Marshall McLuhan tells us.

so let's help each other love who we are and be confident in our imaginations; whether we think of brainwaves or stocks or weather patterns or paint.

i didn't really learn very much about the brain from Dr. Vessel, but i did learn a bit about mine and that i should stop questioning it.

i don't need a medical degree to be able help people, but i do need to be happy to be able to help people and happiness is contagious so that's already a start.

with that i say ACHOO!

catch the happiness.

do something great.

do something that you love.

be and be happy.

brains, courtesy google image search

love