Curiosity – My Favourite Emotion

By Neity Prasad

So, give me a chance before you go:

“Are you sure that curiosity is an emotion?”

Well, we’ll find out.

In the dry and dramatic definition

of the term “emotion”, we find —

“A strong feeling deriving from

one's circumstances, mood,

or relationships with others.”

Now, you’ve got to be lying

if you tell me that never,

has a circumstance, mood

(Maybe not yours but someone else's)

or a certain relationship dynamic

has left you feeling curious.

We shall now have a look at the

second definition, which I could

have avoided, but more to unravel, I guess.

“Instinctive or intuitive feeling as

distinguished from reasoning or knowledge”

this, indeed makes things intriguing.

Curiosity is, unarguably, an instinct.

Ask your parents and they’d agree

that you, as a kid, were so curious.

In fact, look at a kid if you want.

That small child will look at the dull,

inanimate object for so long:

trying to understand what it is.

*poke poke*

Does the object respond?

And then, the final stage: Eat it.

If it can't respond, it can't hurt you know?

Hence, the first part of the definition

has been proven true.

“Distinguished from reasoning or knowledge”

Curiosity, by itself, arises because

of lack of knowledge. Though,

you may use reasoning to

deal with the internal turmoil

caused by it.

Which brings me to my final

and conclusive point —

The reason why I chose

curiosity as my favourite emotion:

It works as a bridge between

instincts and knowledge,

feelings and understanding

and makes us utilize our ability

of being able to think.

It makes us more humane,

and better as humans.

So go explore your neighbourhood;

talk to that nice lady;

ask that old couple about their life;

or your family about their health.

Be curious, and allow yourself

to fully embrace it, like you should

with any other emotion too.

By Neity Prasad