Questions

As a kid, I did a little bit of everything—playing various sports and different instruments (I joke that I was trained to be a great guest). One lifelong lesson I learned, however, was from an early soccer coach: we miss every shot we don’t take. Anytime you are near the goal, just shoot—the probability of success increases with the number of attempts. I have referenced here several author friends who highlight the power of asking a lot of questions. Like soccer goals, I have learned that I already know the answer to every question I don’t ask, so it’s crucial to ask the ones that will be helpful toward greater understanding.

Most days I see an image of an artwork by an artist I know and sometimes someone whose work is totally new to me. I can’t say for sure why something catches my eye—another reminder of the richness of paying attention. When I don’t know the artist and am unsure what the work means and I like it immediately, I want to know more. This is where my questions start, and therein lies one of the secrets to success: ask about what catches your interest—anything you are curious about or need—and keep asking. The path that opens up may be unknowable but is often remarkable, and your curiosity will be rewarded.

This painting is by Charlotte Mei whose work I found through Fair Play.