“The first and simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind is curiosity.” – Edmund Burke
Born to explore…
Like all children, I was curious and I loved exploring. Whether it was venturing into hidden caves, fishing in rock pools, digging on sandy beaches or collecting things on woodland nature trails, I was always on the look out for interesting things. Everything was an adventure.
The natural explorers of the world never lose this innate sense of curiosity. They continuously choose to journey into the unknown; they aren’t afraid to push themselves mentally, physically and spiritually; and they’ll redefine the limits of human endurance just to see what they’re capable of. Natural explorers never stop challenging themselves and as a result, they never stop growing.
Yet for others, the desire to explore can fade with age and responsibility. As Picasso put it: “Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up”. As adults it’s easy for life to get in the way. When you’re busy juggling a job, family life, friends, housework and daily jobs it’s easy to forget the simple things – like stopping to listen, paying full attention to what’s going on around you or asking questions about things that interest you. It’s easy to become sheltered by your own comfort zone and when you rarely venture out of it and experience anything new, you can be left feeling bored and unfulfilled. But life doesn’t have to be this way!
The dictionary defines an ‘explorer’ as ‘a person who investigates unknown regions’ and if those unknown regions lie within us – in our hearts, our minds and our souls – then every single one of us has the potential to be an explorer of the world. As Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, once said: “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me… going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”
For author Keri Smith something wonderful came from the simple list she scribbled in the middle of a sleepless night back in 2007…
Now a guided journal, How to be an Explorer of the World: Portable Life Museum is a beautifully hand-illustrated collection of 59 ‘explorations’ – cool ideas for how to get creatively unstuck by engaging with everyday objects and your surroundings.
This book inspired me to look at the world in a different, more creative way, just like I did as a child. The fun little exercises reminded me to observe, enjoy the little things and live in the moment. Best of all, they allowed me to indulge my lifelong passion for collecting – images, thoughts, words, sayings, quotes, lists, books, stationery – anything beautiful!
Cultivate your own curiosity… being curious opens you up to new possibilities, new experiences, new connections and new relationships. It can take you down new paths, set you up to experience new challenges, and lead you to connect with people who have the potential to change your life! Your life won’t be ordinary it will be extraordinary!
So today Do What You Love invites you to experience the wonder of seeing the world – the world within, and the world around you – with new, more compassionate, connected and receptive eyes. Are you ready to lead a curiously strong life? And more importantly, can you handle being an explorer of the world?
We’ll be with you every step of the way!
Rachel
