I’ve been told I ask a lot of questions. I could meet someone and within 5 minutes, tell them about my life story as well as ask theirs. Some people are just as open, others not so much. For some, it takes a lifetime for them to unravel their life’s story after trust is built. For others, they’re simply that complicated that it would take a lifetime. Those are the most interesting to me. Being complicated is not necessarily a bad thing. I once had this wise older friend tell me that to find the right guy, or just quality people, we want them to be like an Onion. Each time you sit down with them, is a new layer of onion that peels off, and each time you see them, more and more layers come off because of all their interesting characteristics and experiences.
My curiosity can come off intrusive or interrogating, but I’m just truly interested. I love people. I love to hear about where they’ve come from, where they’ve been, where their parents came from and how it’s made them who they are today. I like to hear about a person’s beliefs – in morals, religion, political views and more. I like to open someone’s refrigerator, or ask them what they ate for lunch, because it’s interesting. I enjoy piecing it together as it deepens my understanding of the human race.
I am encouraged by others’ ambitions. Asking what their 5 year/10 year plan does not mean that they have to live up to those standards or fail if they don’t. It’s a general idea of what they’re about. I’m curious what people would do if money was not an issue. Most people have a totally different response than the job they’re working now. That selection would usually be their passion and Dharma (what they’re meant to do in this life). I have a friend who would go to culinary school. I have a successful female client who said she’d become a Veterinarian. I know a real estate professional who would become a doctor. My sister said she wanted to become a clown when she was 5. You ask me, I’d travel for the rest of my life if I didn’t have to worry about money, blog and film documentaries.
This curiosity of the human race is why I travel. It’s why I majored in Cultural Anthropology. It’s why I like to interview/film people and share it with the world. I want to ask the questions some other reporters won’t ask, in hopes that it will shed prejudice and unravel perspectives about people (in a good way) we wouldn’t have otherwise known. I was having a conversation with someone I had just met yesterday at a friend’s pool party. He brought up a great point. He said you know someone’s interesting when they ask questions. People that don’t, think they know everything. I’ve always admired Socrates quote “The more you know, the more you realize you know nothing.”
Cheers to those that are always striving to learn more. Those always reading. Those not taking sides on only what the media shows. ‘Stay hungry, Stay foolish.’ Stay thirsty my friends.
And to share with you today’s Kaballah, which is so appropriate for today’s topic.. to encourage you to ask more who, what, where, when, why & how’s:
Why is Knowledge
Sunday July 24, 2011
“Why?” is the root of knowledge. Questions are encouraged because they are essential to your spiritual growth. The only dumb question is the question not asked.
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