Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Ten Questions I Often Ponder

Curiosita: An insatiably curious approach to life and an unrelenting quest for continuous learning.

In his self-help book How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci, Michael J. Gelb discusses seven principles drawn from an intensive study of man and his methods. Named after the Renaissance man himself, the Seven Da Vincian principles are most helpful when remembered, developed, and applied consistently throughout one's lifetime.

Curisoita, the first principle, means practicing a curious approach to life. As writers, the stories we tell are born from our own curiosities. We question the issues we explore, the journey of our characters, and what messages to share with readers. We question human behavior, the trends we witness, and how society functions. Our innate curiosity leads us to the page.

The following is an excerpt from Gelb's book:

All of us come into the world curious. Curiosita builds upon that natural impulse, the same impulse that let you to turn the last page - the desire to learn more. We've all got it; the challenge is using and developing it for our own benefit.﻿

Great minds ask great questions. The questions that "engage our thought" on a daily basis reflect our life purpose and influence the quality of our lives. By cultivating a Da Vince-like open, questioning frame of mind, we broaden our universe and improve our ability to travel through it.

As a teacher, I strive to instill a value for life-long learning in my students. I want them to continuously acquire knowledge by seeking answers to their questions. This same belief fuels my writing - I want readers to learn from my stories; to gain perspective and look at situations from multiple perspectives. I want them to ask questions that are open-ended and thought-provoking. I want them to think, analyze, and evaluate. I want to keep them curious.

How does curiosity shape our lives? How does it shape our writing and our reading?

I leave you with ten questions I often ponder. Have a great day, folks.

Ten Questions I Often Ponder:

1. Where exactly do the socks go?
2. Would I like being part of a larger, closer family?
3. How long would I last in the Big Brother house?
4. If I were a student at Central High in 1957, how would I feel when my school was integrated?
5. Would my online writing friends like me in real life?
6. How would my life be different if I still lived in Kentucky (or New York)?
7. What would my life be like if I still taught seventh grade social studies?
8. Where is my student teaching portfolio?
9. Do certain people from my past ever think of me?
10. Does my former administration have any idea what I went (and continue to go) through?

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