A Question of Questions
March 31, 2008
I am working on a project right now in which many questions arise, curiosities that easily turn to frustrations. My tendency is to ask those questions of myself and look in the literature…anything but to engage PEOPLE that might be most helpful. Then, as my curiosity goes unanswered or lacks direction, my ability and desire to continue engaging my questions diminishes.
What role does curiosity or questions play in getting things done? Many have touted the importance of cultivating curiosity that keeps things interesting, creative and challenging. Where do questions get directed to be useful in encouraging forward movement?
Rainer Maria Rilke, famous 20th century poet, says “try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Live the questions now.”
I have more questions than responses these days, that is for sure. I am trying to live the questions and ask them of you as well. I look forward to your thoughts.
April 2, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Thanks for the Rilke quote. I needed to hear it.
Jonathan
April 2, 2008 at 4:38 pm
great to hear! it is from the wonderfully insightful book you and Sabrina got me - “Letters to a Young Poet”. It can speak to anyone pursuing creative endeavors, not just poetry!
April 8, 2008 at 4:56 am
Thank you, Prisca, for sharing.
Life does bring us so many questions. I can only share my own experience; my experience is that with each new question comes an excitement and intense desire to answer this new question… yet, the older questions (and at times, the more important ones) seem to fade in intensity, perhaps because I have been able to live without their answers. Yet, in the marathon of life, those important questions seem to rephrase themselves and appear again, desiring to spark anew the excitement and yearning not necessarily for the answer, but the path toward the answer.
April 8, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I tend to seek out those that have more wisdom and experience than I and ask them my questions. I don’t often look in literature (although I suppose I should).
It’s May graduation time around here and I’m getting some lovely phone calls and emails. Apparently I’m a monster…
HA!
April 8, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Sabrina - i do agree some of the same questions seems to shift in intensity and in the way they come about. i guess it’s progress when it doesn’t feel like total deja vu.
Daniel - somehow, that’s not how i remembered you… i remember when i was the monster - i don’t miss that! best of luck!
April 16, 2008 at 5:48 am
This is quite in a different direction: When Paul and I met, literally, we sat for hours and exchanged reading our favorite poems/poets. Rilke was/is his favorite! So fun to hear someone else reference a quote from such a different time and place. Smiles!