The Double lives of Scientists

I noticed something very early on in grad school. Most scientists or grad students have double lives. I don't mean Jekyll and Hyde like but rather lives outside of science (which is a great thing to have). Many of the scientists I stalk follow on twitter and in the blogosphere are scientists AND writers, exercise enthusiasts, musicians etc. I am jealous. From an early age, I was a serial student and that has been my life up to this point. I don't play any instruments. I can write decently for assignments and I dislike exercise (not loathe it but outside of the health benefits-I don't find it pleasurable. Zumba doesn't count). I've posted on here about my need to find a hobby. Something to do that is completely separate from my work and pleasurable. I honestly don't know if I can since I feel like I'm to old to start and commit to anything [at my age-late 20s]. The sad part is that my lack of a hobby actually takes up more time than I'd like it to in my waking consciousness.

I've always admired people who can multitask. One of my best friends was a brilliant student, plays steel pan and took piano all through high school. I admire real student athletes who are scholars and great athletes. I honestly don't know how they do it but I think that starting early in childhood has been an asset.

So why didn't I participate in any extra curricular activities? Well for one, there weren't many opportunities available in the rural village that I grew up in ans the few that were available were closed off from me. Or rather I was closed off from them. If given the opportunity, I think I could have been really good at netball or volleyball. the few times I've tried during adulthood, I enjoyed it and was complimented by others. But I was never given the opportunity. I was raised by a patriarch who believed that education was the be all end all. If you showed academic promise early on then your sole focus would be academics with ZERO outside distractions. It never occurred to him that it may actually add value to your life.Never mind that he was an avid cricketer and footballer all through his youth into old age. Nope, my siblings and I were confined to school, home and church. Thankfully my brothers have found something that interests them and they are really good at it. They take karate classes. I'm really proud of them both for being able to break free of their 'shackles'. Me not so much. So I am here, in grad school, still trying to find exactly where I can fit in.

Dee