Heart Pocket Word for the Day is Inquisitive!

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The word from my heart pocket is Inquisitive.

What is inquisitive not?

Indifferent. 

Unconcerned.

Uninterested.

Could care less.

Dear me. 

We've all felt that way but most of the time, we human beings are highly inquisitive. In fact, we spend a great deal of time trying to "figure it out". It doesn't matter what subject it is, we want to KNOW.

Our minds seem to always be thinking, wondering, asking, probing, investigating, searching - for answers, for solutions, for new and different, for better and faster. We are very VERY inquisitive!

A four year old gets stuck on the question, "Why?". It's annoying when we're busy but truthfully, of all the questions, it packs a real punch in just one word. And it's the one that has brought about a great many discoveries. It's so important, I can't imagine why we don't have a national Why? Week. Indeed, we need to honor our inquisitive nature, fostering it in education and in the home. It is a characteristic that is to be nurtured and since it is a part of our DNA anyway, why not let it rip?!

A curious nature is highly creative. As a society, we have sent mixed messages. We elevate our inventors and explorers and yet we have said our children should be seen and not heard; we have become angry when one too many whys crops up in the conversation; we've left no space/time in the classroom for curious natures and we've taken the learning out of teaching by teaching not to the student but to the test.

Einstein is credited with the quote, "Why should I memorize something I can look up in a book?" Or on the internet?

There is, of course, room for memorization. Some of those memories spark our most inquisitive thoughts. But there must be room - room in the mind, room in the classroom, room in our days to honor our questions and to allow the thinking and dreaming that brings solutions and inventions alive!

How many times have we sat at a conference and wanted to raise our hands to ask a question, but didn't? How often have we sat in a classroom and wanted to interrupt with a thought sparked by the teacher's words? How many times have we worked with our hands, making and trying and wondered how we might make a better thing? Where do the birds go in winter? How do they fly? Why does this person have cancer and that person does not? What are the questions I should ask to help myself live a more meaningful life? What do I want to do today? (often asked and often goes unanswered)

Be interested and you'll soon become interesting. Start a conversation. Get people talking. Explore ideas and challenge the status quo. Be inventive. Be curious. Be inquisitive.

Try this:  If you don't know, ask.