Most have heard the saying that curiosity killed the cat. I’m not sure about the accuracy of that statement. What I do know is that curiosity might kill a cat, but it definitely kills the boring.
Being curious keeps us learning. It is in our curiosity that we peek into boxes of unknown. It is in our curiosity that we unearth unexpected things. It is in our curiosity that we pull back the curtain, if just a bit, to glimpse what may be there.
Curiosity is a desire to know and learn. The curious person reads, asks questions, tries, and explores. John Maxwell, on his Minute with Maxwell, said, “A curious mind is an expansive mind. An expansive mind is a fertile mind.”
Brody our oldest grandson, when he was much younger, would say, “Laaaasssst time…” Then he would recall something we did. Allow me to adapt this to curiosity.
When was the last time you tried a different food? When was the last time you were bold enough to ask about something you didn’t know? When was the last time you drove a different way to the mall? When was the last time you asked why something was done a certain way? When was the last time you listened to a young child explain something? When was the last time you asked why not? Who says? How can we do this differently?
Honestly, I am not a naturally curious person. I typically take things as they are, seldom pausing to wonder why. A few weeks ago I was at a movie with my wife and some friends. The lady next to me was wearing large ear coverings. I could hear descriptions of the movie coming from those head phones.
At first it was annoying. I didn’t understand the reason she had them on. After a bit, as in most cases, the noise being emitted became white noise. It no longer was a distraction.
After the movie I wanted to ask her what was up with the headphones? I was curious. But not wanting to appear rude, I didn’t ask. I let the perception of rudeness disrupt my curiosity.
I have to learn not to allow perception of intention to hinder my curiosity. One question would have appeased my curiosity and made me smarter.