I work with a chemist who doesn't really talk. But every meeting he presents 10 new molecules he made. Its nice when he does talk, because he always sums up things no one says out loud, but they feel it. Today he said that research and science is like a
stream
or
river
of water. When the river finds a dam the water goes up and up and that pressure builds up, and you feel like you can't go anywhere and nothing works. But all the while the water goes up, searching. It only takes one crack or another route either you find away around or the dam breaks, and you generate so many new ideas and questions and you feel good again. I found him after a run when he told me this. A light in his eye. He has to run to another building to do an analysis, and he says some days he walks other days he runs. Or he does a little of both. But its much better to move than to just sit and wait.
williamliao