“If I have a superpower in life, it’s the ability to find almost anything interesting.” My brother told me this last year during a conversation we were having related to how to become a renaissance man. A renaissance man is a well-rounded individual. It really refers to the breed of person who develops abilities and skills in a wide range of areas. It was coined in reference to the type of men who emerged during the Renaissance period who made art, studied philosophy, studied the sciences, and mastered anything else they could access. I’ve spent the last few months thinking about his words and how it affects his life. I don’t know that I am the same type of person. I’m easily distracted and lose interest in topics rapidly. However, I am very curious. Questions, ideas, or areas of potential expertise routinely grab ahold of me, and I find myself compelled to learn everything I possible can until I lose interest. My wife calls it my “hobby of collecting new hobbies.” The neat thing about the era we live in is that it is a perfect time for any person to become that sort of well-rounded individual. A little bit of curiosity or interest is all you need to embark on personal growth in any area you could possibly desire. In college, I learned to repair cars by reading books I bought at the auto parts store. Today, YouTube offers millions of videos from folks who will happily train you to repair anything. Over the weekend, I was studying for Sunday’s sermon. I found myself wondering about a point of obscure Jewish law as it was decided by ancient rabbis. I couldn’t find an answer in any of my books, so I reached out a prominent rabbi/professor on Twitter. He agreed to answer my questions and help me understand the matter. This would have been impossible 40 years ago. We have access to more information than we could possibly consume in a lifetime. It’s a Google search away. Millions of books are an Amazon order away. Lectures, college courses, and Masters level classes are available for free from streaming services. Over the weekend, I learned that I can ask experts direct questions with minimal effort. All it takes is a little curiosity. Once upon a time, folks were limited in their potential to learn and grow by their access to information. Today, we are only limited by our willingness to reach out and take it. Last week, I started reading a book about Leonardo da Vinci that set out to identify the qualities that helped make him a genius of the highest caliber. The number one quality the author identified was an unquenchable curiosity. The man wanted to know anything and everything he could possibly know. Feeding his desire to know more was his version of relaxing. Einstein described the same thing as simply being in wonder of the world around him. “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day.” The greatest thing you can do to enrich yourself as a person isn’t found in a self help book or seminar. It is simply kindling curiosity and wonder in your own self.
