Let's Talk About...Curiosity

Ok. I recently gave my friend's grandson a book called "How Things Work." I gave it to him because I would want a book like that.

I always want to know how things work. I can't imagine anyone not wondering why the sky is blue or where the birds go in a snowstorm or how the whole cicada cycle even happens. How do sump pumps work, anyway? It is all a mystery waiting to be unpacked.

Curiosity is a gift. It is also a key.

Curiosity is like opening a door to find another door. And then another. It creates wonder and interest and knowledge. Without curiosity, doors stay shut.

Curiosity is also vital to our interconnectedness. It is vital to our understanding of others and ourselves.

Long ago, we relied on school, Encyclopedia Britannica, our parents, and the newspaper to find answers and discover new questions. Now we have Wikipedia and AI. It is a lot easier to discover new worlds out there. Who hasn't Googled something simple like "tuna" and then gone down that rabbit hole to then find a lot of information about Matthew McConaughey?

The same is true for people. Scratch the surface and you might find someone worth giving a kidney for.

Ok. That sounds a little heavy. Here is what I mean.

A friend of mine was telling me she is considering changing jobs because she didn't feel connected with her colleagues after a year. During our discussion, it came up that her co-workers had never asked her about her life, family, or interests. Not even whether she prefers regular coffee or decaf.

Interest in someone or something creates a bond, or at least a spark. If you know why the sky is blue, you might then become interested in learning about wavelengths and the atmosphere. If you know how many children someone has, you can ask the next question like, "What are their names?" And so on.

It all starts with the first question.

We are all onions waiting to be unpeeled if only someone is curious.

"How is work?" is not the same as "How did you feel when you ran the meeting today? What was the feedback?" That shows true interest and that you remember she had a meeting that day she was concerned about.

"Where did you go to elementary school and what was your favorite subject?" can open whole areas of exploration. Just try, "Tell me about your mom," and see what happens.

My mom would say, "Be interested, not interesting."

I say, if you can be both, you have found a friend.

Similarly, try being curious about yourself. Why did a comment make me angry? Why do I talk so much? What is making me anxious about that meeting?

Get to know yourself and you will be more willing to get to know others.

Curiosity never really killed any cats. It just helped you learn. It helped you learn that the world is not flat. It helped you learn that that girl you are dating isn't really for you. Or maybe she is.

How would you know without asking the first question?