“Were you alive with the dinosaurs?” When my son asked me this, I think I laughed. I found it sweet (and a little insulting). “I’m not that old!”. Of course, he wouldn’t have known that. To him, I’d always been there. It was quite plausible that I knew a diplodocus or two.
He would have been three or four then. At that age when all kids bombard us with questions: “Why is the sky blue?”, “Which monster truck is your favourite?”, “Why is ice-cream cold?”, “What does the tooth fairy do with all the teeth?”, “Why is that lady’s face all saggy and scrunched?” Both delightful and relentless.
So, if we start so full of questions, why do they slow down as we get older? By the time we’re grown-ups we’ve learnt to be wary. There are questions, but they’re the ones we ask ourselves before we even open our mouths. “Is it rude to ask that?”, “Will that question be seen as appropriate?”, “Should I know that already?”, “Will they mind that I’ve forgotten?” “Will they laugh at me?” Self-examination is useful, but sometimes it has the power to paralyse us.
It's a well understood fact that curiosity is what keeps us learning. So, wouldn't it be great if we could re-discover some of that natural talent to ask. Let’s be brave. Not just in new situations or with new acquaintances. But with people we’ve known for ages too.
I thought I’d heard my mother’s stories many times. But when I finally interviewed her on camera recently, I realised there was plenty I’d assumed. When I asked questions, she answered. The result was a whole lot of detail and some new stories I’d never heard before. My New Year’s Resolution is to get curious about more of her story in a follow up 2024 interview.
You don’t need to do anything so formal, but could your New Year’s Resolution be to ask more questions too? Perhaps there is someone in your life whose story you want to understand better? A parent, grandparent, someone else? Resolve to take the time to ask questions. It's amazing how people open up when you show you’re interested.
Even better, get their story on film. If doing it yourself is too daunting, I’m happy to help. Please get in touch by filling in the form on https://www.reelifestories.au, or email me on info@jackiewarren.com.au
You can also find me on https://www.facebook.com/reelifestories/, https://www.instagram.com/reelifestoriesmedia/
HAPPY NEW YEAR – May 2024 be full of thought-provoking questions and extraordinary answers.
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