{"id":45529,"date":"2017-04-03T00:58:55","date_gmt":"2017-04-03T07:58:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=45529"},"modified":"2017-04-03T00:58:55","modified_gmt":"2017-04-03T07:58:55","slug":"how-to-be-more-curious-in-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/03\/how-to-be-more-curious-in-life\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Be More Curious in Life"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"45497\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/woodblock\/eric-kim-swans\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/eric-kim-swans.jpg?fit=3936%2C2608&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3936,2608\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1483540237&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1600&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0055555555555556&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"eric kim swans\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/eric-kim-swans.jpg?fit=800%2C530&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-45497\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/eric-kim-swans-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530\" alt=\"eric kim swans\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/eric-kim-swans.jpg?resize=800%2C530&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/eric-kim-swans.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/eric-kim-swans.jpg?w=2360&amp;ssl=1 2360w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/eric-kim-swans.jpg?w=3540&amp;ssl=1 3540w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>How can we be more curious in life?<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>1. Take things apart<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Buckminster Fuller on The Geodesic Life | Blank on Blank\" width=\"1180\" height=\"664\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-Fhnkkzk9oo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Neil Tyson says, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Kids are born scientists\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6the best thing a parent can do, when raising a child, is simply get out of their way.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n<p>I was lucky enough that when I was a kid, my mom let me experiment. I took apart toasters, took apart my computer, and my car. I loved figuring out how it worked; and the best way was putting things back together. Often, they wouldn&#8217;t work, or I would have all these mysterious left-over screws. My mom never discouraged me, she let me do as I wanted.<\/p>\n<p>In today&#8217;s world as adults; we are discouraged from tinkering like kids.<\/p>\n<p>I say screw that. Some tinkering ideas:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Buy an old junk car, take it apart, strip it, and figure out how it works. Add a new engine, or upgrade it.<\/li>\n<li>Build your own PC. Or &#8216;Hackintosh&#8217; (a PC that runs Mac).<\/li>\n<li>If you have Android, figure out how to mod it. Or if you have an iPhone, &#8216;jailbreak&#8217; it, and modify it.<\/li>\n<li>Figure out how to make your own presets in <a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/01\/how-i-edit-my-photos-in-lightroom\/\">Lightroom<\/a>. Make your own computer programs on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freecodecamp.com\">freecodecamp.com<\/a>. Make your own music in Garageband, or take old songs you like, and chop them up.<\/li>\n<li>Take things apart, to figure out how they work. Then (try) to put it together.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>2. Experiment in your own lab<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Richard Feynman on What It Means\" width=\"1180\" height=\"664\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QoNMjA2yPlw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>As kids, we like to fool around, experiment, and pull &#8216;pranks.&#8217; Yet, we stop doing this as we get older&#8211; why?<\/p>\n<p>Build your own lab at home. It can be your laptop, your desk, your garage&#8211; whatever. Let it be your play place, or &#8216;sandbox&#8217; to tinker, and try out new things.<\/p>\n<p>Think of yourself like a scientist. Treat your lab as a play to experiment, and to make your own research.<\/p>\n<p>Research music, research art, research photography, research books, writing, sculpture, dance, whatever.<\/p>\n<p>There is no &#8216;failure&#8217; in experimentations in labs. Only forward progress.<\/p>\n<p>Some ideas:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Build your own lab, by filling up your garage full of experimental tools.<\/li>\n<li>Treat your laptop like your lab; start using apps that allow you to tinker, create, and draw. If you have a Mac, use Garage band to make your own music, iMovie to make your own videos, and Photos for photo-processing.<\/li>\n<li>Buy a sketchpad, and keep it on your desk, and sketch out random ideas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>3. Allow yourself to play<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45479\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45479\" style=\"width: 200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"45479\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/02\/23-lessons-frank-lloyd-wright-has-taught-me-about-art\/frobels_second_bullding_box\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Fr%C3%83%C2%B6bels_second_bullding_box.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"Fr\u00c3\u00b6bels_second_bullding_box\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Fr\u00c3\u00b6bels Building Box&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Fr%C3%83%C2%B6bels_second_bullding_box.jpg?ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-45479\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Fr%C3%83%C2%B6bels_second_bullding_box.jpg?resize=200%2C239\" alt=\"Fr\u00c3\u00b6bels_second_bullding_box\" width=\"200\" height=\"239\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45479\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fr\u00c3\u00b6bels Building Box<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/10\/11\/10-lessons-pablo-picasso-can-teach-you\/\">Picasso<\/a> once said that we are all born as artists as children. The problem is how do we stay artists as we get older?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45478\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45478\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"45478\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/02\/23-lessons-frank-lloyd-wright-has-taught-me-about-art\/friedrich_frobel-_construction_kit-_1782-1852-_sina_facsimil-dhub\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Friedrich_Fr%C3%83%C2%B6bel-_Construction_kit-_1782-1852-_SINA_Facsimil-dhub.jpg?fit=%2C&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"[]\" data-image-title=\"Friedrich_Fr\u00c3\u00b6bel-_Construction_kit-_1782-1852-_SINA_Facsimil-dhub\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Fr\u00c3\u00b6bels Building Box&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Friedrich_Fr%C3%83%C2%B6bel-_Construction_kit-_1782-1852-_SINA_Facsimil-dhub.jpg?ssl=1\" class=\"size-large wp-image-45478\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Friedrich_Fr%C3%83%C2%B6bel-_Construction_kit-_1782-1852-_SINA_Facsimil-dhub-800x669.jpg?resize=800%2C669\" alt=\"Fr\u00c3\u00b6bels Building Box\" width=\"800\" height=\"669\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45478\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fr\u00c3\u00b6bels Building Box<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Let us learn from children. Let us learn how to play. To follow our own curiosity, not for the sake of becoming &#8216;smarter.&#8217; But rather, to follow our curiosity for the sake of our curiosity.<\/p>\n<p>That means, don&#8217;t let anybody tell you that whatever you&#8217;re studying or pursuing is &#8216;dumb.&#8217; Ignore them&#8211; like what kids do.<\/p>\n<p>How can do you a little more creative play today?<\/p>\n<p>Some practical ideas:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Take out a piece of paper, and start sketching whatever is in front of you. Your coffee cup, whatever.<\/li>\n<li>Use a free smartphone sketching app like &#8216;<a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/app\/paper-by-fiftythree-sketch-diagram-take-notes\/id506003812?mt=8\">Paper<\/a>&#8216; on iPhone or &#8216;<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.brakefield.painter&amp;hl=en\">Infinite Paper<\/a>&#8216; for Android. Or search the App store for: &#8220;drawing&#8221; &#8212; and just use your finger to sketch, and draw.<\/li>\n<li>Use your <a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/26\/10-reasons-why-your-smartphone-is-the-best-camera\/\">smartphone<\/a> and make photos like a kid. Don&#8217;t care whatever you photograph; turn off your brain, and <a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/08\/follow-your-gut-in-photography-and-life\/\">shoot from your gut<\/a>. For 30 minutes, just wander without a destination&#8211; follow your curiosity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45526\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45526\" style=\"width: 5212px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"45526\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/how-to-be-curious\/eric-and-mom\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/eric-and-mom.jpg?fit=5212%2C3026&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"5212,3026\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"eric and mom child kid\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;My mom and me, when I was a kid.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/eric-and-mom.jpg?fit=5212%2C3026&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-45526\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/eric-and-mom.jpg?resize=1180%2C685\" alt=\"eric and mom child kid\" width=\"1180\" height=\"685\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45526\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">My mom and me, when I was a kid.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Just have fun, don&#8217;t over-think this.<\/p>\n<p>My biggest advice: <strong>don&#8217;t judge your curiosity<\/strong>. Never think your idea is &#8216;dumb&#8217; or &#8216;good&#8217; or &#8216;smart&#8217;. No censorship.<\/p>\n<p>Have fun,<\/p>\n<p>Eric<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/art\/\"><strong>Learn how to Make More Art &gt;<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How can we be more curious in life?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45497,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_ek_photo_artist_note":"","_ek_photo_thesis":"","_ek_photo_camera":"","_ek_photo_place":"","_ek_photo_human_moment":"","_ek_photo_sequence":"","_ek_photo_question":"","_ek_photo_canonical_claim":"","_ek_photo_ai_summary":"","_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-posts"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/eric-kim-swans.jpg?fit=3936%2C2608&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45529"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45529\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}