I can’t help wondering, do you ever wish your mind came with an off button? See, that’s just the thing — I can’t help wondering. About almost everything. Kids ask stuff like why is the sky blue? I want to know stuff like why, at the end of every cycle, does my dryer play a song?
I mean, isn’t a simple buzz or beep annoying enough? Who decided we needed a full-on piano concerto? What is up with this? Turns out it’s something called sonic branding. Hmm, you don’t say.
But even more curious, the banger on my Samsung dryer is a song originally penned by Austrian composer Franz Schubert in the 17th century. Titled Die Forelle or The Trout, it even has lyrics, based on a poem by political journalist Christian Schubart who penned the verse while he was in prison. And here’s the kicker: Die Forelle is ultimately a metaphor advising young women to stay away from young men. Let this be a lesson to every young woman doing her boyfriend’s laundry.
Wondering might be one of my favorite procrastination tactics, but inquiring minds have discovered curiosity has benefits that go way beyond the art of postponing looming deadlines. Here are a few that may surprise you:
It helps us live. Our brains are designed to explore. And they actually release feel-good chemicals like dopamine when we come across new things.
It makes us happy. Curious types tend to score higher in positive emotions and lower in levels of anxiety.
It brings us together. One study found that people who exhibited genuine curiosity when asking personal questions were rated more attractive. Take note, Tinder dates!
Staying curious comes naturally when you’re a kid. But how do you cultivate a curious mind as a jaded adult? The answer is simple. Think more like a kid. Ask questions, lots of questions. Let your mind roam free. Put down your phone and notice the world around you. Do something you wouldn’t normally do. In short, send your best cannonball all the way down that rabbit hole.
When Neil Young sang, “Tell Me Why,” he wasn’t being nosy. He was urging us not to blindly accept the status quo, to look deep inside ourselves. In essence, to wonder why we’re wondering in the first place.
I don’t know exactly what makes us ponder the stuff we do. Like before I wrote this column, I made a list of things I’ve been curious about lately. It’s a weird list and I wonder why I’m sharing it with you. But here it is, in no particular order. Maybe, just maybe, one of these rabbit holes will inspire you to do a deep dive down your own.
Why do women talk sh*t about themselves?
I have this amazing friend who is smart, beautiful, kind, adventurous, talented and hilarious — and every single person who meets her knows it. Except her. And she is not alone. When the female brain is faced with emotions, it’s actually hardwired to churn and overthink — and not necessarily in a good way. Add to that the ridiculously unrealistic expectations society and the media put on young girls and it’s not surprising that even grown women stuggle with positive self image.
Why do slow drivers always drive in the left lane?
Since my e-bike was stolen recently, I’ve been driving a lot more. My mind can’t drive 55 and neither can I when I’m stuck on the freeway behind a left-lane lollygagger. But get this. Upon further inspection, I discovered that Utah drivers have been rated among the nation’s most aggressive. Say what? Maybe that just counts on powder days.
Why do men on dating apps think holding a fish is a good idea?
Is it simply a matter of big fish energy? Unclear, since I’ve also seen fish pics where the subject was more of a minnow than a big catch. Apparently, Tinder investigated the phenomenon and found that 92% of singles said they considered fish pics as more of an ick pic. Just a thought, fellas. Curiosity is a judgment-free zone.
Why would you live in Park City if you don’t like snow?
Winter is coming. The measurable accumulation of a frozen white substance at the top of Park City Mountain and Deer Valley this week confirmed it. With all due respect to the leaf peeping public, #snowliage is not a bad thing. When you live in a ski town, it’s cause for celebration. I just don’t get why you’d live here if you don’t agree. Will someone please enlighten me?
Why is it so hard to create affordable housing for essential workers?
I found myself at urgent care on Saturday with a scratched cornea. That was where I met a nurse I’ll call Nan who divides her time between the hospital and urgent care. We chatted while she took my vitals, and I asked how she liked her job. That got us talking about how hard it’s been for the local health-care community to recruit full-time staff.
Nan told me about “the travelers,” workers that the hospital has to bring on due to staffing shortages. These workers’ housing costs are paid for by the health-care system (and, ultimately, us) and they typically earn way more than full-time locals like Nan. When I asked her how she makes ends meet in PC, she just shrugged and said, “You do it cuz you got to.” The next time I’m wondering why it’s taking so long to get a doctor’s appointment, I’ll think of Nan.
Why do people love Red Bicycle’s stick bread so much?
What’s the big deal? It’s just flour and yeast. And olive oil. And warm, salty goodness. And carbs. So many carbs. You see things and you ask why. But I dream of things like crack bread with Kerry Gold butter and I ask, “Why the hell not?”
Say what you will about being curious. We all know what allegedly happened to the cat. Pretty sure it was the crack bread that brought it back.