Passionately Curious…
I read a quote that has been attributed to Albert Einstein that goes like this:
“I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious.”
Whether Albert Einstein said this or not really doesn’t matter. The truth of that statement rings true to me. As a writer and painter, Curiosity and Passion play a role in my life. And like Albert Einstein, I too feel that “I am only passionately curious”.
My passion and curiosity take my mind, heart, and soul into varied forms of artistic expression. What I have found to be true for me is that I am the sole keeper of that flame of curiosity. It is my duty to keep that flame burning, the fire stoked, the logs and kindling piled high, always ready to throw into the flames.
If I don’t keep that passion burning no one else will. The most vital part to my creative equation is not about how my mind has worked since I was a child nor how it developed as I matured but it has been about giving myself the freedom to embrace my curiosity; about running towards it as if my life depended on it, when in fact, my creative self did depend on it. Curiosity can take you far; allowing you the freedom to explore the world.
I had to learn to deflect negativity from people who tried to make me feel ridiculous for asking questions about everything. This has been a challenge throughout my life with people from time to time. The short tempers, the eye-rolling, the “looks” like there was something wrong with me for wondering about everything. Some people feel uncomfortable if you are one of those “wondering” kind of souls…”How’d they do that”, or “I wonder what would happen if”, or “Do you know why”, or any type of “wondering” that shines the light on their sad souls that NEVER wonder about anything! I can’t begin to imagine what my life would be like if I had never wondered about things…sad, I suppose.
Don’t you think it’s a bit magical to WONDER? I do. Why even the word itself, “WONDER” conjures up the feelings of grandeur and magnificence. Being passionately curious leads to wondrous delight, inspiration, miraculous insights, stunning creations, joyfulness, and love of life. I encourage everyone to throw the doors of their minds wide open and let all that is uplifting, amazing and WONDROUS flow through their hearts and souls.
I promised my thirteen year old great-niece that I would write about being passionately curious. I hope to inspire her to never, ever, be afraid to voice her curiosity. To never kowtow to those that feel threatened by someone’s passion to understand.
If we could all ask more questions, we might understand each other better, and the world might be in a much healthier place right now. Oh well, I can only hope that more people will begin to “WONDER” and in the meantime I will continue on with my life of Passionate Curiosity.
