By Samantha  McKenzie

I grew up hearing the phrase “curiosity killed the cat.”

I think this was my parents way of saying being too curious would get me into trouble. They were also good for saying “a child should be seen and not heard.” Reading Curious George books only solidified their case.

But I always remained curious. I wanted to know more and I wanted to know why. My discoveries sometimes led me to living a life against the grain, breaking a few family traditions and questioning authority. I count my curiosity, to this day, as a privilege.

Being curious stimulates innovation, enhances discoveries and even motivates something in all of us to seek answers, ask more questions and get down to what really matters in our world. Curiosity ushers in understanding and often is the driving force that pushes us out of our comfort zone and into charting a new course.

I’m still curious. The idea of this “cloud” that stores my documents and information still puzzles me. And Pluto’s on-again, off-again relationship with the planets makes me wonder. I’m curious about cultures and sub-cultures and the downside of capitalism and its ugly offshoots, I often call greed and world dominance. I could go on.

Be a game-changer. Be curious. Let’s nurture our curiosity and watch it evolve into tomorrow’s solutions.