Why Be Curious?

​Dear Why Team member,
I hope this week’s message finds you well, curious and encouraged to learn new things.

​Why Be Curious?
 
To begin, I find life much more interesting when I am interested in life.

​And so it was that while at Disney World during Spring Break this year, just me and my favorite daughter Gabrielle, (I only have one daughter:-)) were walking on a gorgeous day to ride the iconic It’s A Small World ride. I first experienced it when I was 11 years old back in 1974. But before we reached the ride, I wanted to take my 19-year-old daughter into my favorite restaurant in the park: favorite for the memories I have of it. We didn’t go inside to eat, but to remember, explore and consider the story and writings on the walls. It’s called The Pinocchio Village Haus Restaurant - which stands out more in my memory from 47 years ago than any other restaurant in the park.
 
Hmm, I wonder why?
 
The story of Pinocchio is brilliant with significant meaning for the curious. Jimmy the Cricket (JC) is Pinocchio’s conscience seeking to show Pinocchio the way - not to just grow up, but to become real and of value to others.
You may remember that a couple of years back I wrote about Pinocchio and the hidden symbolisms of what seems to be a simple bed-time story. My daughter and I read the specially selected messages on the walls:
 
“Funny little toy, go play your part, bring a little joy to every heart”
“Take the straight and narrow path”
“Give a little whistle”
“And always let your conscience be your guide”
 
While looking at the wisdom in the murals on the walls, I struck up a conversation with the father of a young family. He had his hands full with a few young ones and I mentioned my memory of those days. And then something curious happened, his 6-year-old daughter went to walk a few feet but was dragging her left leg behind her. Nothing appeared to be wrong with her leg, so I said to her dad, is she alright? To which he responded, “oh she’s fine, she just had her cast removed and is still walking like she still has it on”.
Oh wow! If you know me, I love a good metaphor. That little girl was still dragging her leg as if the cast was still on it.
 
How many of us, free of the cast, free of the past, remain hobbled?
 
Are you renewed from your time in the cast, or does your memory of the cast have you locked in the past ;-)?
 
While Disney that day had its plethora of entertainment, what stands out most for me was what curiosity revealed in The Pinocchio Village Haus Restaurant.
 

​ 
In fact, our curiosity became an invitation for others to engage; an older employee who had been working in the restaurant for many years approached us. He noticed our curiosity and introduced himself.
My daughter and I had a wonderful conversation with him talking about the story of Pinocchio. He said many people remark on his similarity to Geppetto, Pinocchio’s creator and father. He enthusiastically accepted the offer to be in a picture together.
 
With so many today working so hard to be interesting, how much more enjoyment is there to be had if we spent more time being interested, than interesting? More time being curious, learning, growing and giving?
 
To enjoy all the more our
Best Day Ever, consider leaning all the more into curiosity - becoming more interested in the lessons life has for us around almost every corner and surely you’ll soon incite curiosity in the ones around you with all the interesting stories you’ll have to share. 
This week I encourage you to:
“Go play your part, bring a little joy to every heart”
“Take the straight and narrow path”
“Give a little whistle”
“And always let your conscience be your guide”
 
Make it a great week!

Steve Luckenbach