Storytelling: A Curious Tale

“I think through the narrative: Did I answer those questions to begin with? Was there a better way that I could answer those questions? Was there a way I could be more articulate in a way that they don’t have those questions anymore? I think that’s where curiosity helps to build the story.” ~ Ronald Young, Jr.

I come from a long line of storytellers. I love a good story and I’ve been trying to parse what it is about stories – and storytelling – that we enjoy so much.

No surprise, I suppose, but I think it has a lot to do with curiosity.  I think stories pique curiosity. They foster curiosity.

Indeed, stories rely on curiosity.

Ronald Young, Jr. is a podcaster and gifted personal narrative storyteller. He has some things to say about curiosity’s contribution to his craft.

Listen to Choose to be Curious #90: Storytelling: A Curious Tale, with Ronald Young, Jr.

Listening to the conversation with Ronald for about the 5^th time (one can never listen too much!) two insights jumped out at me that illuminate the inspiration for this episode.

Others’ curiosity helps us tell our own stories. Perhaps this seems obvious, but I think it’s rather profound: the shape and color we give to our own lives depends, at least in part, on the attention and imagination of others. By listening attentively, they help us attend to our own tales. Others can help us see and share ourselves more fully — especially if they choose to be curious about us and the stories we might have to tell.

Good stories – the ones that really captivate us – draw on all the dimensions of human curiosity.  Rather than worry about whether it’s a state or trait, psychologist and George Mason University professor Todd Kashdan sees curiosity as a multidimensional mode that finds unique combinations and expressions in each of us. A good story seems to draw on all those dimensions, appealing to each of us for different reasons, tickling points all along curiosity’s full expressive spectrum.

Check out Ronald’s Time Well Spent podcast and join me for his live event on October 4, 2019, in Alexandria, VA. Tickets available here.  “Bypass” clip used with permission.

Enjoy stories from DC’s own StoryDistrict at StoryDistrictPresents.

Check out a quick summary of Uri Hasson’s work on the human communication systems in effective storytelling and Todd Kashdan’s five dimensions of curiosity.

Theme music by Sean Balick.  Check out Sean’s new album “From the Pines”.  

You can subscribe to Choose to be Curious on Apple Podcasts/ iTunes and Stitcher.

Check out the Choose to be Curious shop!*

*Any purchase from the Choose to be Curious shop supports Arlington Independent Media. Please also consider making a donation at wera.fm. Thanks!

In Praise of Distraction

When you’re curious about something, you’re pulled off in multiple directions. Your eye can be snagged by some seemingly inconsequential dimension. ~ Tyson Lewis

At the close of his elegant and exhaustive biography of Leonardo Da Vinci, Walter Isaacson offers a list of the habits we might learn from Leonardo, that we might in some modest way emulate the genius.

First on his list is be relentlessly and randomly curious. 

He goes on to include retaining a childlike sense of wonder, seeing things unseen, respecting facts, thinking visually, collaboration, procrastination.

Somewhere in the middle is get distracted.

Tyson Lewis, who teaches in the College of Visual Arts and Design at the University of North Texas, is fascinated with his students’ assigning curiosity a soft inconsequentiality that seems determined to deescalate the moment: “I’m just curious.”  He makes the case for distraction.

What I Learned: Protocols are different from lesson plans. They prepare the classroom for something other than a pre-determined learning objective, creating space for unexpected experiences and insights.

What I Loved: Now I have the language and frame for my Big Jar of Wannabe Analogies! It’s just me, opening space for awkwardness and insights.

Listen to Choose to be Curious #89: In Praise of Distraction with Tyson Lewis

What happens differently when you are just curious?

~~~

Tyson is the fourth in my series of interviews with the contributing authors to the forthcoming anthology Curiosity Studies: A New Ecology of Knowledge (University of Minnesota Press, 2020).  Stay tuned for future episodes!

Dip into Tyson Lewis’ protocols and other writing here. 

Savor more of David Keplinger’s elegant poetry here.

Theme music by Sean Balick.  Check out Sean’s new album “From the Pines”.  “Our Own Melody” by the Piano Moves, from Blue Dot Sessions. 

You can subscribe to Choose to be Curious on Apple Podcasts/ iTunes and Stitcher.

Check out the Choose to be Curious shop!*

*Any purchase from the Choose to be Curious shop supports Arlington Independent Media. Please also consider making a donation at wera.fm. Thanks!

Why Count: Curiosity & Census 2020

“We have a population of about 230,000 — but, what does that mean? Who are the Arlington residents? How are they being served? How can we better serve them?”   ~Elizabeth Hardy

When the Arlington County 2019 Profile showed up in my inbox, I was curious about the people behind it. What are they curious about? What impact does that have on how the information is then used? And what’s the Big Why behind all the data they collect and report, the census included?

Elizabeth Hardy, a principle planner and demographer for Arlington County, tells all.

Listen to Choose to be Curious #88: Why Count: Curiosity & Census 2020 with Elizabeth Hardy

Henry James wrote in The Art of Fiction: “try to be one of those on whom nothing is lost.” I appreciate his homage to the power of paying attention. It’s a good reminder that we may never know what information or experience is going to be important to us – and so we should attend to it all.

Well, perhaps not all. That’s a lot of information. But still.

Elizabeth’s job is to look around, see what’s true, and help find the path to the future we’ve decided we want. She must be one of those on whom nothing is lost, curious in a myriad of ways in service of as many different lives. When you think about it, that’s a pretty awesome responsibility.

More about the U.S. Census 2020 and how to become a Census Partner in Arlington. 

Theme and other music by Sean Balick.  Check out Sean’s new album “From the Pines”.

You can subscribe to Choose to be Curious on Apple Podcasts/ iTunes and Stitcher.

Check out the Choose to be Curious shop!*

*Any purchase from the Choose to be Curious shop supports Arlington Independent Media. Please also consider making a donation at wera.fm. Thanks!