Wordie Wednesday: curiosity
cu·ri·os·i·ty | \ ˌkyu̇r-ē-ˈä-s(ə-)tē , ˌkyər-\
plural curiosities
Definition of curiosity
1: desire to know:
a: inquisitive interest in others' concerns: NOSINESS The construction inside their house aroused the curiosity of their neighbors.
b: interest leading to inquiry; intellectual curiosity: Her natural curiosity led her to ask more questions.
2 archaic: undue nicety or fastidiousness
They say curiosity killed the cat and satisfaction brought him back.
Was I ever curious? Always on the outside, always observing, always shuffling information around in my head, snooping, but rarely asking questions. I didn’t want to be wrong, or to seem stupid.
I’m curious, sure. As a journalist, I must be. It’s a skill, curiosity. It must be honed, used often in order to contribute to knowledge and awareness. It connotes openness. Of mind, soul, spirit. If one moves through life with a curious nature, then everything is of equal weight in importance or impact. There is a lack of judgement about curiosity.
I feel like the older I get, the harder it is to be curious. To ask questions, or to think of the questions. Or to remember to ask questions. Sometimes I just don’t want to make small talk. Sometimes small talk comes easily. Maybe I’m more judgemental, more cynical, now that I’m older, and my curiosity has been exhausted, sated.
Or maybe I’m just satisfied.
Curiosity killed the cat, remember, but satisfaction brought him back.