The Art of Staying Curious
Currently sitting on the train during my usual commute home, and there’s a little girl sitting with her dad just across the seat.
Intelligent bright blue eyes, shockingly pale blonde hair, the perfect pitch of a child’s voice, and best yet — she’s holding this cookie and mindlessly licks it every once in a while. When’s the last time you’ve mindlessly licked a cookie? Maybe don’t answer that.
While we can deep dive the analogy between the speed in which one eats cookies and the speed in which one enjoys life later, what strikes me most about this child is that from the moment I have sat down to this very second of typing — she has not once stopped asking questions.
“Daddy, why did that man take out his wallet and show the other man?” (Conductor was asking for passes)
“Daddy, why is the train stopping so much?” (Stopping for passengers)
“Daddy, why are we going backwards?” (She’s sitting on the backwards facing end)
The other day in my Digital Vision & Strategy class (Surprise! I’m in grad school), our lecturer stated that now, more than ever, it is imperative that we ask questions. We explored the nature of the digital revolution we are currently living in and discussed that in order to maximize this time of opportunity, we must ask every question possible — so that we may build the tools needed to answer them.
Long gone are the days of agriculture and industrialization. Now are the days of exponential growth in thought, ability, evolution — and the key to unlocking these tools?
Simple: Curiosity.
Question everything, reexamine everything you know, and look at the world through a child’s lens.
Why DID the man take out his wallet to show the other man? Why couldn’t we use RFID readers to scan on and off our seats to eliminate time and interaction? Why IS the train stopping so much? How do we maximize efficiency and make it faster for people jump on and off the train? Why ARE we going backwards? Is a mere change in perspective what we need to realize that by going backwards we are actually moving forwards?
Most importantly — above all — we must recognize that no amount of curiosity can change the world without a little bit of help. Every question the little girl has asked so far has been met with kindness, patience, and encouragement from her father. He is someone she can trust; he has answered every question with eye contact; he has held a respectful tone of voice, and no question has been a dumb question.
Just as this father is doing for his bright eyed daughter now, my wish for you — for me, for her, for him — is that we surround ourselves with people who nurture our curiosity. May we find people who foster our light; and in return, may we be people who bring light to others.
