The importance of curiosity

While perusing the news today I found an article about a new book called 59 Seconds, by Richard Wiseman. The description: it "exposes self-help myths and presents scientifically proven techniques that help you achieve your aims and ambitions in less than a minute. From mood to memory, persuasion to procrastination, and resilience to relationships, 59 Seconds presents the new science of rapid change."

Did I see the word science?! I ended up on the blog for his book where I found a great post called The importance of curiosity. In short, curious people are happy people.

I feel very fortunate to work in a place that encourages and expects curiosity. I found a piece of street art last year that told me to "Replace fear of the unknown with curiosity", and I thought that was pretty grand advice. (Go back and read that quote again and really think about it. It's so great!) A few weeks later I got my job here at the Science Centre and I was asked to start a blog. So, with the assumption that there may be others who post entries on the blog (not yet -- soon!), I created a sign off for myself. Stay curious.

Kids are so good at being curious, and then they grow up and they aren't so curious anymore. How many times a day does a  year old ask "why?" 20? 50? And how many times a day do you? Once or twice? Yes of course adults know more than kids, but I also wonder what the world would be like if adults asked that question 50 times a day as well.

I choose to be curious, and the Science Centre helps me stay curious. In fact, the other day I learned that hockey goalies wear something like 50 pounds of equipment while they're on the ice. Yet they move so fast! And on Tuesday I learned during Van Gogh: Brush with Genius that Vincent van Gogh painted over 900 paintings in 10 years, but near the end of his life he painted 80 paintings in two months -- meaning some days he did three a day!

I have been reading more entries on Richard Wiseman's regular blog and it's full of puzzles! Love it.

Stay curious,
Collette


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