Chapter Content
Okay, so, um, something I've been thinking a lot about lately is... curiosity. And how important it is, you know? Like, we're born with this incredible, almost insatiable curiosity, right? You see it in kids, they're just constantly asking "why?" about everything. It's how they learn, it's how they explore, it’s basically how they stay alive.
But, you know, as we get older, that curiosity tends to... fade a bit. Life gets in the way, responsibilities, you know, bills, jobs... all that stuff. And, honestly, it's a real shame because, turns out, curiosity is like, the real fountain of youth, if you can believe it.
I mean, there’s science behind it. Studies have shown that when you're curious, it keeps your brain sharp. It helps you stay mentally and even physically healthy as you get older. Plus, it makes you happier! Like, seriously, more life satisfaction, more positive vibes, and less anxiety. Who wouldn't want that? If someone made a pill that did all that, everyone would be clamoring to buy it.
It’s about building on that foundation, that innate curiosity that we all have inside. It's what encourages us to search, to explore, to question, and to, you know, learn and grow. It’s how we find our purpose, unlock new insights, and just generally stay engaged with the world.
You see examples of this everywhere, right? Like, the entrepreneur who stumbles upon their "big idea" by diving deep into a market they’re really interested in. Or the retiree who keeps their mind sharp by learning a new language, just because it intrigues them. Even people who meet their life partners by, you know, going to events that spark their excitement.
Fortune favors the curious, plain and simple.
But, yeah, that raw, childlike curiosity, it kinda just... atrophies. It fades as you get older. Reality sets in and takes over. You get busy, you gotta provide, you gotta handle all the urgent stuff, and curiosity takes a backseat.
Studies even show that intellectual curiosity and openness to new things starts to decline in late adolescence and just keeps going down through adulthood. Some people think it's because as you get older, you see less value in acting on your curiosity, since it'll mostly benefit you in a future that feels like it’s closing in.
I think, maybe, it's a survival thing from way back when. Curiosity helps you learn the world, which helps you survive. But once you've figured things out, that same curiosity might get you into trouble. Like, if you hear a sound in the bushes, being curious might lead you to investigate and get eaten by a lion! Of course, we don’t really worry about that anymore, but it’s just a little evolutionary quirk that stuck around and maybe isn’t so useful anymore.
A life without curiosity is… kinda empty, you know? It's a life without the desire to search, explore, and learn. It lacks that spark, that texture. It's a life of stasis, a life without wonder. And that… well, that’s just sad.
I heard someone say once, and I'm paraphrasing here, that inside every eighty-year-old, there's a ten-year-old wondering, "What the heck just happened?" But that feeling, that sense of disconnection, it doesn't just appear overnight. It starts way earlier. It starts in your twenties and thirties when you stop pursuing interests outside your job. It starts in your forties and fifties when you stop trying to understand the world and just say, "That's just the way it is." It starts in your sixties and seventies when you stop learning new things because you don't see the point anymore.
But here's the thing: it's not too late to reconnect with that inner ten-year-old. There's this trick called "mental time travel." Basically, you try to separate from your current self and imagine yourself as a past or future version. You can use it to feel grateful for what you've accomplished, or to gain perspective by imagining what your older self would think of your current situation.
So, ask yourself: what would your ten-year-old, hyper-curious, mischievous self say to you today?
Would they be excited about your passion for life, or would they be disappointed that you settled for less than you deserve?
Would they be impressed by your joy for learning and growing?
Would they be horrified by the lack of space, stillness, and silence in your life?
Your ten-year-old self would probably remind you to stay interested in the world, and to have some fun along the way! When life tries to pull you towards the boring, same-old same-old of incurious adulthood, you have to fight to keep that sense of wonder alive.
I actually heard this story about a guy, he’s getting up there in age, he still reads the newspaper every day, just to keep up with everything. He says he likes to know what's going on in the world – the who, what, when, and where of it all.
And, honestly, that’s inspiring to me. It’s a reminder to reconnect with that inner child, you know? I think, deep down, that's why I tell people I want to be like him when I grow up. Because he’s built a life full of that curiosity, that engagement, that... Mental Wealth, basically.