A Return to Wonder

I’m curious by nature, and I always have been. Growing up, I was the child who repeatedly asked, “But why?” in response to anything adults told me, never fully satisfied with their explanation. I would regularly pull an encyclopedia off the bookshelf and flip through it until something caught my attention and then I would settle in to read all about it.

That sense of curiosity faded as I got older and school or work dictated what I would study and left little time or energy to learn about something new for the pure joy of it. Fortunately, I don’t think curiosity is something we lose; it waits dormant waiting for us to find our way back to it. I’m trying to rediscover that version of myself, the one looked at the world with wide eyes full of wonder and questions. As I embark on that journey, I thought I’d share a few prompts with you that have helped me reconnect with my curious self.

• The next time a question comes to mind, don’t brush it off. Instead, write it down somewhere you can revisit it. As you add more questions to your list, do you notice any patterns emerging?
• What is one area of the world that fascinates you and you want to learn more about? Take the time to learn more about this place and understand why you’re so drawn to it.
• What’s a place close to your home that always seems to catch your attention for some reason? If it’s an office, look it up to see what business they’re in. If it’s a store or restaurant, pay them a visit.
• Keep a “curiosity” list for a week. Write down everything that grabs your attention and makes you want to know more, no matter how big or small. At the end of the week, choose one thing to explore more.
• What is a saying you’ve never fully understood? Take the time to research its history and meaning.

Staying curious doesn’t have to be anything big or serious. It can simply be asking questions – even small or insignificant ones – and allowing yourself the time to explore them. The more I make room for all these wonders, the closer I feel to the little kid who never stopped asking, “But why?”

Continue exploring what stirs your curiosity in Bella Grace Magazine.