\u201cThe cure for boredom is curiosity,\u201d mused Dorothy Parker. \u201cThere is no cure for curiosity.\u201d If you\u2019d like to catch this virus, here are a few resources and idea starters (which only have value when investigated further).<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00b0 Get lost on purpose.<\/strong> I bet you know the shortest, fastest route to the places you go on a regular basis. Right?\u00a0 That may be expedient, but it doesn\u2019t generate much curiosity.<\/p>\n Give yourself an hour or two and head in a direction you\u2019ve not gone before. Explore a new neighborhood in your hometown. Ride a city bus to the end of the line.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Locate kindred spirits.<\/strong> If you\u2019re exploring a new subject, chances are good that you\u2019re not alone in your interest.<\/p>\n Visit the reference section of your library and check out Gale\u2019s Encyclopedia of Associations<\/em><\/strong> to see what organizations exist that share your interest.<\/p>\n Look for conferences and seminars that bring together others who can expand \u00a0your curiosity. Encounters with real humans can enhance your learning experience in ways that research alone can’t.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Immerse, don\u2019t dabble<\/strong>. Pick one or two projects that you\u2019re willing to explore as fully as possible instead of dozens of little toe dippers. You could set an exploration up as a 90-Day Project, or make it an on-going, regular study.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00b0 Revisit a lost love.<\/strong> Many of us have abandoned an activity that once brought us great joy.<\/p>\n If you used to be a voracious Scrabble player, for instance, get a game going and see if it\u2019s still a fit for you. Sometimes we outgrow a passion, but sometimes we realize we\u2019ve just neglected it.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00b0 Be a klutz.<\/strong> Many of us learned early on that it wasn\u2019t okay to make mistakes. That, of course, is the biggest mistake of all.<\/p>\n So pick an activity that you know you\u2019ll do clumsily and do it anyway. Even better, do it in public, with witnesses. Don\u2019t scold yourself afterwards.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Uncover a new curiosity.<\/strong> Pay a visit to eHow and sample some of their videos on subjects from the sublime to the amusing.<\/p>\n You could learn how to Change Water in a Fish Tank, Travel the World Cheap, Make Custom iPhone Ringtones\u2014or 150,000 other subjects.<\/p>\n You\u2019re bound to find something you didn\u2019t even know you wanted to know.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Build a list of Firsts.<\/strong> On purpose, do something at least once a week that you\u2019ve never done before.<\/p>\n Try a new food, get active in social media, visit a neighbor you\u2019ve never met, rent a classic movie that was made before you were born.<\/p>\n Keep a list and amaze yourself with all the new activities and new people you encounter\u00a0before the year is over.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Listen to a deep thinker.<\/strong> Although they\u2019ve been around since 1984, the wonderful TED <\/a>Talks are just gaining popular attention.<\/p>\n In case you aren\u2019t familiar with this wonderful program, pay them a visit and listen to Sir Ken Robinson or Benjamin Zucker or Elizabeth Gilbert or any one of the dozens of innovative speakers they\u2019ve recorded and generously share with us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cThe cure for boredom is curiosity,\u201d mused Dorothy Parker. \u201cThere is no cure for curiosity.\u201d If you\u2019d like to catch this virus, here are a few resources and idea starters (which only have value when investigated further). \u00b0 Get lost on purpose. I bet you know the shortest, fastest route to the places you go…<\/p>\n