Some News, A Newsletter you might like, And another “C” word

Dear Reader

News: Writer’s Chat at the Sculpture Park

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On 12 November at The Sculpture Park a Waitakaruru Arboretum between 10 am and noon I’ll be joining the Writer’s Chat event being held in the cafe area shown in the photo.

Save the date, for those who are close by. Join me and enjoy the park at the same time (and morning tea!)

A Newsletter I think you will enjoy

My friend and fellow writer, Vicky Adin, has a monthly newsletter that I always look forward to. I think you will enjoy them too.

In her words, her newsletters:

…include a snippet of history, a new word, a recipe, and as much book news as I can cram in – not only mine. Sometimes, you’ll hear about our travels in our caravan or a trip in our vintage car. Other times, I will write about my garden, or places I’ve visited.

This month’s offering piqued my curiosity. I wrote in a recent newsletter of her most recent book about Lucy the Suffragist that highlights the early suffrage movement in New Zealand. This month Vicky has a segment that follows on from women’s universal suffrage being granted in New Zealand in September 1983. The following is an extract from her newsletter. I thought you might be interested in a little more related history Vicky shared.

HISTORY OF THE MONTH ​
Twenty-six years after women win the right to vote,
they win the right to stand for Parliament.
​29 October 1919​

Auckland lawyer Ellen Melville (1882–1946) was the first woman elected to a city council in New Zealand
​Elizabeth McCombs became New Zealand’s first female MP in 1933
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To celebrate LUCY – Book 3 in The Art of Secrets is on sale for 99c (ebook only)

If you enjoyed this snippet, Click here to go to Vicky’s website to sign up.

Vicky’s Newsletter inspired me to share the following on one of my “C Words”.

This week’s “C Word” Share

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Curiosity

As I promised in the last newsletter, here’s another piece based on my “C” List. This time it’s a topic I’ve long been curious about. There’s a few types of curiosity – for me, I have developed a “ferocious” curiosity over the years. But today it’s a gentler form of curiosity I’m writing about.

Curiosity isn’t just a fleeting moment of fascination with a topic. It’s a steady undercurrent that can profoundly enrich our lives and help us understand and appreciate the choices and actions of others. Curiosity is a quiet but potent force, akin to a gentle breeze that can take us to new horizons of understanding and appreciation.

A Bridge to Empathy:

Curiosity has a remarkable way of building bridges between people. When we’re genuinely curious about someone’s life experiences, beliefs, and perspectives, we invite them to share and, in turn, develop a deeper understanding of their choices and actions. It’s like opening a door to their world, and this gesture of curiosity can lead to more profound connections.

For instance, while living in the USA, I visited a colleague and his family who have a completely different background to mine, following the Jewish faith. He invited me to join him in a Kabballah class. I was curious about Kabballah and decided to go. It was a profound experience, giving me an understanding about their traditions, family values, and the customs that shaped my colleague’s life. This simple act of curiosity not only helped me appreciate his choices and actions but also fostered a deeper understanding of those who follow the Jewish faith. I often think back on that visit and am grateful for the invitation, and that I was willing to get out of my comfort zone and follow my curiosity to gain understanding.

Learning from Others:

Curiosity isn’t just about satisfying our own desire for knowledge; it’s also an opportunity to learn from others. When we seek to understand why people make the choices they do, we often uncover valuable lessons and insights that can help us make more informed decisions in our own lives.

Again when I was living in the USA I was fortunate to attend several conferences and seminars centred around both personal and professional development – subjects I’ve long been curious about. We were encouraged to ask questions and learn to actively listen. These sessions were structured with a strong element of small group work. Through interacting in this way with people with different skills and interests, I discovered valuable strategies and practices that I have been able to adapt in my own personal and professional life. It was the curiosity to understand and learn that lead me to these programmes. The willingness to participate and learn from another person’s choices built on that initial curiosity and allowed me to grow and evolve in a way I never thought of.

Breaking Down Prejudices:

Curiosity is a powerful tool for combating prejudice and stereotypes. When we approach people with a sincere desire to understand them better, it shatters the preconceived notions we might hold. By diving deeper into the ‘why’ behind their actions, we often realize that they have their own unique motivations and struggles, just like we do.

I learned this from an experience I’m not particularly proud to recall. I was spouting off with a group of friends about our friend Josie. Josie was always immaculate – dress, makeup, voice, attitude. This particular day I was saying how I couldn’t understand how she could possibly have been attracted to her husband, Joe. Joe was a scruffy, rough guy. A rough diamond I suppose, but in my judgement there was more ‘rough’ than ‘diamond’. I was in full swing with this opinion when one of the others interrupted and told us something I’ve never forgotten: “I was talking with Joe’s sister the other day, and she said how grateful their family was to Josie. Since Joe married her he had changed out of sight, all for the better.”

Ever since, when I’ve caught myself judging someone, I’ve tried to take a curious stance, genuinely seeking to understand “what makes them tick”. It doesn’t mean I have to condone or even like the person, but it does lead to a more empathetic understanding of another’s choices and actions.

A Lifelong Adventure:

My natural curiosity has taken me around the world. I could write a book about how curiosity has served me in that regard! Hmm. There’s a thought. 😊

But I want to illustrate this concept of a lifelong adventure with an anecdote I’ve often thought about: of an unfulfilled and unmarried woman who helped her family run a boarding house – her job was as a kitchen hand.

She complained that she didn’t have the ability to learn anything to a great educator, or was it a steel magnate (that’s why this is an anecdote. The origin of this story is unclear). The man questioned her about what she did and where she did it. In finding out that she peeled potatoes and onions sitting on the bottom of the kitchen steps he challenged her to find out about the glazed bricks her feet rested on and send him her findings. Weeks later she had researched at the library, visited a brick factory and written her article. The next question she was asked was ‘What is under the bricks?” The result this time was a book length manuscript about the different species and habits of ants! She followed this new-found curiosity and travelled around the world.

This story about being able to develop curiosity highlights that it is not necessarily an innate quality. It’s motivational and inspirational, and reminds me of when the power of being curious was born in me.

I had an amazing teacher. One day when I asked a question the class sniggered at me and I was embarrassed. This teacher said something to the class that has encouraged me all my life: “It’s better to be thought a fool for asking a question than being a fool for not asking.” I could share at least one time remembering this motivated me to risk being thought the fool and the consequences, in a good way, were monumental for me.

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Curiosity is a lifelong adventure with endless rewards. It’s not a trait that’s reserved for a select few; it’s within each of us, waiting to be nurtured. So let’s not tell that child that seems to only know one word: “WHY?” to shush! That child might be on the verge of the greatest adventure life can unfold for us all.

Curiosity isn’t just about scratching an intellectual itch; it’s a profound tool for enriching our lives and deepening our understanding of others. Whether it’s building connections, learning from different experiences, or breaking down prejudices, curiosity is the beacon that can light the path to a more enriched and empathetic existence. Let’s embark on this journey of exploring the treasure trove of our world with open hearts and curious minds.

There’s a gentle power to curiosity: To Enrich Our Lives and our Understanding of Others.

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Here in New Zealand it’s spring time and we’ve been enjoying the garden’s showcase of colour. We’ve also enjoyed getting out and planting, tidying up the beds, and weeding out those plants that no longer enjoy the spaces they are in. If instead of spring you’re enjoying your autumn and fall, I know you’ll be doing similar activities! The garden always demands our attention.

Enjoy the next couple of weeks until we connect again.

Much love

Stephanie

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