Curiosity

CURIOSITY: to wonder; to desire to learn and to know; (The word ‘curious’ comes from the Latin word ‘CURA’ which means “to care”.)

QUESTION: What is something that you wonder about?

STORY: My parents loved me and I had no doubts about this. They were very different people. My mom was a Lutheran Republican. Dad was a Catholic Democrat. Mom told me that it was not wise or good to talk to strangers on the street. Dad told me to be kind and that all people (white, black, indigenous, Mexican, Asian, etc.) are all the same under their skin. Mom and dad both loved me but they looked at the world very differently. I remember sitting in my college dorm room and wondering: Which one is telling me the truth? I began to wonder and asked myself: “Is there such a thing as TRUTH - or is it all opinion?” It’s true that we all have opinions. But this one question guided me to search for the deeper, ever present Truth that is formlessly here now ever present.

QUOTES

“Critical thinking and curiosity are the keys to creativity.” ~ Amala Akkinen

“The gift to teach each child in the world should be a sense of wonder - so indestructive, that it would last throughout life.” ~ Rachel Carson

“Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will.” ~ James Stephens; “I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

EXERCISE

Stop. Relax. For a minute - just BE.

When ready allow yourself to be curious about something that concerns you. Get your pen and paper and let a few words flow, describing your concerns. Allow yourself to wonder and to care deeply about what is going on with this “something” that concerns you.

And if you have another minute or two, use your “other” hand to draw or scribble lines that express the powerful energy in you when you care and wonder and feel curious to know the truth of what is going on in the world around you.