I Pick Curiosity, My Friend

How often do you feel the pull to read up, learn more, prepare—just in case it helps you connect better, feel more empathetic, respond more appropriately?

It’s a reasonable instinct. It looks responsible. It even feels generous.

And yet… I keep wondering about the trade we’re making.

As kids, we never paused at the door to decide whether we were adequately prepared to be good friends or play well with others. We didn’t check credentials. We didn’t review background information.

We just yelled, “Hey—wanna play?” and trusted curiosity to carry us the rest of the way.

Somewhere along the line, we traded that instinct in for knowledge. We mistook preparation for connection.

Education for empathy.

Not realizing that curiosity has a far better exchange rate.

Knowledge helps you recognize patterns.

Curiosity keeps you available to surprise.

Preparation helps you avoid mistakes.

Curiosity helps you discover what actually matters.

So I find myself asking—when we reach first for information instead of curiosity, what do we gain… and what quietly steps out of the room?

Because curiosity doesn’t make us less respectful.

It makes us more present.

And presence has always been the real connector.