Curiosity has been a thread running through my entire life. It’s not just something I dip into from time to time—it’s the habit that has shaped who I am, the work I’ve done, and the joy I continue to find every day. And yet, it’s also something that can easily slip away if we’re not intentional about cultivating it.

 

When I was young, curiosity looked like staying up late with a flashlight under the covers, devouring books that transported me into worlds I couldn’t yet imagine. Later, it was asking mentors not just how they succeeded but why they did what they did—what motivated them, what lessons they had to learn the hard way. Even now, in retirement, curiosity keeps me moving forward. It makes the ordinary extraordinary.

 

The truth is: without curiosity, life flattens. With it, life expands.

 

Curiosity as an Attitude

 

Curiosity isn’t simply asking questions. It’s an attitude toward the world. It’s the willingness to say, “I don’t know enough yet,” and then leaning forward instead of stepping back.

 

Seth Godin once wrote about how we can choose to see things as problems or as puzzles. Problems drain us. Puzzles invite us in. Curiosity turns problems into puzzles. It reframes obstacles as opportunities and interruptions as invitations.

And that shift—small as it sounds—changes everything.

 

How Curiosity Has Enriched My Life

 

When I think back on the moments that have truly enriched my life, curiosity is always at the center.

 

 

• • It has deepened my relationships. Some of the most meaningful conversations I’ve ever had happened because I asked one more question instead of letting the conversation stop at polite answers. Curiosity opens doors into people’s stories.

• • It has kept me growing. Even after decades of work, travel, and teaching, I still wake up wanting to learn. Curiosity means there’s always something new around the corner, even in seasons of life that might otherwise feel routine.

• It has transformed the ordinary. A cup of coffee, a walk with my dogs, even a conversation at the grocery store—all of these moments become richer when I pause and ask, “What’s here that I haven’t noticed before?”

Curiosity has been my greatest teacher. It’s given me joy, connection, and purpose.

 

The Challenge: Practice Curiosity Daily

 

But here’s the thing: curiosity doesn’t happen automatically. If you let routine run your life, you’ll stop seeing. You’ll stop asking. You’ll stop wondering.

 

So, if you want more joy, meaning, and richness in your days, here’s the challenge: practice curiosity every single day. Not once in a while—every day.

 

Here are a few practices that work for me:

 

 

1. 1. Ask one more question. The next time you’re talking with someone, don’t settle for “fine.” Ask what excites them. Ask what frustrates them. Ask what they’ve learned lately. People open up when curiosity invites them in.

1. 1. Notice the overlooked. On your walk, instead of rushing to get steps in, pause and notice one detail you’ve never seen before—the shape of a shadow, the way the wind moves a tree, the sound in the background. Curiosity begins with paying attention.

1. 1. Follow your wonder. That small thought—“I wonder why…”—isn’t an accident. Don’t let it slip away. Write it down. Look it up. Ask someone about it. Reward your wonder, and it will reward you back.

1. Stay open. The most curious people I know aren’t the ones with the most answers. They’re the ones willing to admit they don’t know—and who are excited by the possibility of learning something new.

Why It Matters

 

I can tell you this from my own experience: life without curiosity is predictable, but also dull. Life with curiosity is unpredictable—but it’s also alive.

 

Curiosity brings joy because it keeps us awake to possibility. It makes conversations deeper, relationships richer, work more meaningful, and ordinary days extraordinary. It’s not just a nice idea—it’s a way of living that transforms how you see the world.

 

So, my challenge to you is simple: don’t just admire curiosity. Practice it. Choose it. Make it part of your life every day.

 

Ask the extra question. Pause to notice. Follow your wonder. Stay open.

 

Because the more curious you are, the more extraordinary life becomes.