Kids are naturally curious, which helps them learn a ton about the world around them. Have you managed to hold on to that?
I’m in San Francisco for the week enjoying being a tourist with my almost 4-year-old son while my wife gets some much needed IRL team with her UCSF colleagues.
We lived in the Bay Area for three years while I was a dermatology resident at Stanford. My wife commuted daily from Redwood City to San Francisco, including while pregnant with our son.
He now gets to experience the city from the outside, and it’s a joy to observe his curiosity.
We took the CalTrain south yesterday to visit with a good friend from residency and her daughter. At the amazing Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo, I took a few moments to read the sign in this photo while the kids were exploring.
The sign reads:
“𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀.
From the moment they’re born, kids test, research and experiment to figure out how the world works.
How can we help them?
Encourage them to explore. Engage them in conversation. And ask them questions. It’s ok not to have all the answers. Kids gain critical thinking skills when they wonder out loud.”
How are you holding on to or rekindling your natural curiosity?
Even though we no longer put everything immediately in our mouths like snakes sensing new objects or run up to every kid on the playground because they’re our new best friend, we can and should remain curious and hold space for it as a fundamental way of learning.
This is particularly important when you have a snap judgment about something.
When that happens, instead of immediately moving on, get curious about why you had that judgment and consider opening your mind or looking from a different angle.
Read good writers who have different political views than you do. Explore artists who are producing things to which you aren’t naturally drawn.
Be curious and non-judgmental, even if only for a few moments.
For me, it’s the rear window of a pick-up truck in central Wisconsin. Picture the most aggressive decals you can imagine — plenty of guns and “how can I offend you today” energy.
Internally, I snarkily and judgmentally call this “Angry White Man Pinterest.”
Good job, Chandler Bing. You defused yet another uncomfortable situation with humor. But you still don’t get it.
I don’t want that snap judgment to be where it ends. I know if I can meet some of those guys with openness and curiosity, we would find common ground and mutual understanding. I’m working on it. I’m getting curious.
How are you getting curious? Let us know in the comments. And, remember, it’s ok not have all the answers.
