Curious?

I think some people have the impression that simple living is, well… boring.

I believe it’s just the opposite. Once you quit doing or simplifying things you don’t want to do – overworking, dealing with too many possessions, running a zillion errands, chairing a committee you don’t even like – you have more time to do what you do enjoy.

One of the benefits of simple living is being able to follow your curiosity. Many adults have had curiosity squished out of the them. After all, why bother getting curious about something if you have no time to follow up with it.

Curiosity is an emotion related to natural inquisitive behaviour such as exploration, investigation, and learning, evident by observation in human and many animal species. The term can also be used to denote the behavior itself being caused by the emotion of curiosity. As this emotion represents a drive to know new things, curiosity is the fuel of science and all other disciplines of human study. – Wikipedia

When you have a schedule broken down into 15 minute increments and something catches your eye, you have to stuff down that curiosity to keep with The Plan.

There is no space in your calendar for meandering walks and questions like, "Which way do I want to go?" You already know to get to where you’re going you have to take quickest way possible so you can get to the next thing on your list.

But, curiosity is one of the things that makes us feel fully alive. You get excited. You find different passions as you explore life. You keep your brain active and don’t do the same thing day after day. Curiosity allows you to look at things in different ways, ask questions to come up with better ideas, and share discoveries with others.

What would your life be like if you could go off on tangents? Or spend an hour researching something you are interested in at your library? Or take a class in something you think you might like, but aren’t sure you will like?

You could take a different route than the usual road. You could explore the foreign food section in the grocery store instead of sprinting down the aisles. You could stop and chat with that person who looks like they would be interesting. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to experiment or explore just because it is fun to do, instead of needing a specific product, outcome, or skill.

As you go through your day today, see where you feel a spark of curiosity. If you can’t look into it further right now, make a note of it. Even if you don’t have time at that moment to explore, you might be able to at another time. Keep making notes of things you are curious about. When you have a free evening or a couple hours on the weekend, you can get out your notes. Then you can explore, learn and feel really alive.

"The important thing is not to stop questioning… Never lose a holy curiosity."
Albert Einstein