Aren’t you curious?

What do you think is your curiosity quotient? That is, just how curious are you and how do you express that curiosity in your day-to-day life?

Here’s why I’m asking. Lately, I’ve noticed behaviors in people that show little curiosity about anything but themselves. And it’s made me stop and take a good long look at myself.   While I may be fascinating to me, I’m pretty sure there are much more interesting people, places, topics – you name it – than little old me to occupy my curiosity.

Good grief, I hope so.

I might not always be listening, but for the most part, being curious is as natural to me as breathing.

But I don’t always see much curiosity demonstrated by others. I wonder if it’s the “age of the selfie” that has gone too far and taken some of us off track in terms of cultivating wonder outside ourselves.

My mom used to say, “If you’re interested, you’ll be interesting.” And she was so right. Think about it.   When you stop learning or stop taking an interest in other people or places or experiences or . . . anything, you pretty much just stop.

And you know what happens when you stop?

You become boring. You start to dry up. You take up life space without putting life into it.

That’s harsh, I know. But I’m really serious about this. And apparently, I’m not the only one.

I was curious (wink) about the topic of curiosity, so I did a little searching. And surprise, surprise, I found a few studies that have been done on the topic.

Apparently, honing your curiosity has significant life benefits to it besides making you a more interesting and well-rounded person.

One study showed that people who were more curious found a greater sense of meaning and satisfaction in their lives. Who doesn’t want more of that?

Another stated that being curious and open to new experiences keeps your brain active and alert, which can be immensely helpful in old age. No kidding. Bring it on!

And finally, one study reported that “Curiosity is the engine of intellectual achievement.” It found that those who are more curious about a topic tend to learn faster, and that curiosity essentially primes the brain for learning. Gotta love that.

Encouraging, isn’t it? So the mind is like a muscle. It becomes stronger with exercise, and there is no better exercise than curiosity.

On top of all of that, being curious is a much more enjoyable and fun way to live, and ultimately makes you a more interesting person to be around.

I’m not sure this makes me very interesting, but here’s an example of how curiosity added a special enjoyment to my life. A few years ago, I became interested in the birds in my garden. Honestly, they’re just the garden-variety – doves, finches, jays. But I loved watching them, and so I started putting food out for them. Then, the worst happened. A hawk found my garden and killed a little finch. I was heartbroken, to say the least. I didn’t blame the hawk – he was just being a hawk. But I wanted to find a way to deter said hawk and his cohorts from coming after my sweet birds. I learned that crows are a natural enemy of the hawk. They each steer clear of the other’s territory, and they don’t kill or fight each other. Once I knew that, I researched how to attract more crows into my yard. Peanuts! I started throwing peanuts in the shells out on my driveway every morning, and for years, dozens of these beautiful creatures came to say good morning. I loved it.  It was a special part of each day for me.

So out of a little curiosity, I’ve developed a whole new interest. Birds! Especially crows. I’ve read books on crows, watched YouTube videos and PBS specials on crows, and have generally become a bit of a crow nut. They’re so smart!

Anyway, like I said, not terribly interesting to many, but this silly little interest has truly given me so much enjoyment. All because I was a little curious.

I think that if we ever give up the childlike wonder of what life has to offer – the good and the bad, the simple and the challenging – if we give up the effort or the drive to learn, well then, I think life will give up on us.

So go ahead. Be curious. Pay attention. Ask questions. Hang out with a 7-year old and just watch and listen. Their endless curiosity will amaze, and hopefully, inspire you. Find out why the heck something is the way it is. Just the energy of staying curious and interested in life, and then sharing what you’ve learned with others will put good energy out into the world . . . and most importantly, into you!

Till next time,

Judy