It might not surprise regular readers to know that I’m a curious person. I ask questions. Why? How?
Although I know this about myself I’m conscious that in some ways I’ve been cruising a bit for a while. I’d become complacent. Disengaged. Uninterested. Content in my own little world of books, television and the like. I mean, I realise we’re always still learning and I’ve had various jobs and gigs over recent years that have required me to learn all sorts of important (and useless) stuff. A means to an end, if you like.
However, it wasn’t until these past couple of weeks that I’ve been reminded I can be quite nerdy in my need to ‘know’ stuff sometimes – even when it’s something that doesn’t actually interest me. I’ve been away for work and had to do some preparatory briefings before important meetings so had to talk to colleagues to get information that I could possibly, potentially be asked.
Some of my colleagues have rolled their eyes as I’ve asked inane and obscure questions. Others have fed my intrigue and I’ve found myself gathering useless facts. Sadly my memory is kind-of dodgy so I don’t necessarily retain that information in the medium and long term, but at the time I get a little buzz out of gleaning new information. And sometimes even a little smug that I’ve thought to ask possibly-ridiculous questions that others might not consider.
And though I may never need to know how hydrogen buses or robotic tractors work or the history of wool scours, it’s been a reminder that I’m not quite as complacent and disengaged as I was worried I’d become. I still have a thirst for knowledge. An ambition to know more. Understand more. To grow. And that’s a relief when I was worried I’d stagnated.
I should mention that after two weeks of being exposed to new stuff and meeting many (many) new and impressive people one’s head feels like it could explode. Or at least that’s how I was feeling by the end of my time away. Or perhaps that was just the COVID (I brought home with me) talking!
March 29, 2023
Great attributes to have Deb, a desire to learn, question, curiosity. A great post showing us how we need a thirst for knowledge.
March 29, 2023
Thanks Deb. I thought the desire had faded so it was nice to be reminded I’m still alive….
March 30, 2023
That’s always a positive!
March 29, 2023
Hi Deb, I know I still have a thirst for knowledge too. I love learning new things … even though my life is quite small. I’m mostly at home or at Mum’s. I ask lots of questions if I’m travelling and on tours etc and am constantly surprised by how much I don’t yet know! There’s lots! I have a dodgy memory too so a lot of what I’ve learned has probably long since fallen out of my head but I get a buzz learning at the time! I’m so sorry to hear you got the dreaded COVID! Hope it wasn’t/hasn’t been too bad? I have managed to avoid it so far but I’m sure it’ll get me eventually. Meanwhile, I’m vaccinated to the eyeballs in the hope that will help when it does find me!
March 29, 2023
I’m fully vaccinated though am due for a booster so will have that because I feel lucky I haven’t been too bad. (Touch wood!)
And yes, travel is a great opportunity to learn as well.
March 29, 2023
Hi Deb – good on you for wanting to know more and for being able to utilize that in your job. I’m not sure I could generate the same enthusiasm for robot tractors or wool scours! I’m busy researching stuff about my parathyroid, because after a visit to a GP and a specialist, I was still completely in the dark. I’m surprised at how little they tell you and how much they assume we know about some weird little glands hidden away in our neck. By the end of all this I could probably consult on hips and necks in my spare time!
Hope the covid is a mild dose and you’re back on top of things asap.
March 29, 2023
I think I said on your post I’m very slack about knowing stuff about my body and ailments. I’m vague on the coeliac stuff and even when I had weight loss surgery I was kinda unsure what it involved but figured I’d work it out! I suspect I’ll need to be on top of my health more as I age though. (I have a third autoimmune disease I can’t even remember the name of… gastric something or other…)
March 30, 2023
I think it’s wonderful when people have a thirst for knowledge and understanding how things work! I’m quite much the same myself and I love having conversations with people who are experts at whatever… but lately I’ve almost stopped because it seems the common attitude seems to be “google it”.. which I find very boring, I prefer having interesting conversations. But anyway. I’m happy you found you still have that urge to learn. It would be sad if we lost that!
March 31, 2023
I actually had to google some of the work stuff Susanne as I worried my questions were a little too basic so I figured I’d start with what I could find out online and go from there!
March 30, 2023
There is so much in our world and living life well with a curious mind is a great attribute. I think it is wonderful to have a thirst for knowledge and I feel that is in my nature as well. I love trying new things and learning new subject matter. It keeps our brains healthy and informed. x
March 31, 2023
I’m not sure I like ‘trying’ new things Sue but I certainly envy people who do. I suspect my fear of failure or not doing well is too great, which is bad cos I don’t often even try.
March 30, 2023
I love your need to know stuff Deb. I’m a bit like that but for me it’s more about the why. I drive them mad at work when they show me how to do something new and I ask but why. If I know why I’m doing it I seem to retain the info better. Interesting post
March 31, 2023
I get the need to know ‘why’ as well Jennifer and hate it when people say, ‘Cos we’ve always done it like that.’ Which of course is often the case but it can be a reminder it’s time to shake things up or ask if there’s a new / better / easier way of doing things….
March 31, 2023
I can be very curious or more than anything annoying (to my husband!) asking “WHY”…however being more serious I am a human who loves to learn and find out about new ideas etc. I can be overly concerned with the why and it becomes obsessive but I recognise this is ‘me’. I love that your new work is bringing more interest and enthusiasm to learn into your life now. As always, I am grateful that you shared your post for Wednesday’s Words and Pics. See you again next week, when no more daylight saving in Australia for 6 months, means Eastern States will be all on same time! Denyse.
March 31, 2023
I think that’s probably a lot of what’s different Denyse – I’m having to step out of my comfort zone again and I’ve been huddled in the one spot for quite some time now….
April 2, 2023
I have to google stuff all the time – my husband goes nuts and says “Why do you need to know that?’ (to which I now reply “So I can forget about it in 10 minutes time”. I think curiosity is such an important thing – it keeps you alive. I’ll sometimes sit at dinners or parties and think ‘is this all we’re going to talk about?” The world is AMAZING and I don’t get people don’t want to be amazed. There is song by Lost Frequencies called Questions and reading your post just put an earworm in my head. Ha! (Get well soon!) #WWandP
April 3, 2023
Apologies for the earworm but at least it’s about something vaguely healthy…. curiosity!
April 3, 2023
Apologies for the earworm but at least it’s about something vaguely healthy…. curiosity!