LIfe In The Middle

Living Like Einstein; Always Be Curious, Always Question And Always Try 

I am finishing up a book written by Walter Isaacson, on the life and universe of Albert Einstein. It talks about his family life, and the years he spent on coming up with his theory of relativity in 1905. It then covers all the years until his death in 1955. It takes you through those fifty years, while Einstein spent questioning the completeness of his theory. It lets you see and understand the creative genius that set him apart from the average person.

I mention this because all of us have the seeds of greatness within us. Einstein himself often joked that the only thing that set him apart from the common man was his keen sense of curiosity. Each of us should encourage our sense of wonder and curiosity in life. This raises us above mediocrity, and commonality. 

This time of year, when school is resuming, and the young are settling into the routines of their academic studies, I think about Einstein’s school years. I try to understand what he must of felt like, his inquisitive mind, asking questions, and trying to come up with solutions. Sitting in a structured classroom, being told he was only an average student. I wonder why he didn’t slip into mediocrity. What made him inherently know that everybody else was wrong? What was in his personal character that allowed him to stand against others, and try a different path?

With that thought in mind, look at your life. What makes you the person that you are? As you set aside your dreams, and picked up the habits and activities that have brought you to where and who you are today, how do you feel about yourself? Self-analysis is a powerful thing. You are the only one who really knows how you feel about what, and who you are.

As you analyze yourself, ponder the opportunities and ideas you have set aside as you traveled down the road of life. Evaluate whether you would have been more fulfilled if you had taken another path. If you are standing at a crossroad in your life, decide if this isn’t the time to break old patterns and habits. Is this an opportunity for you to begin a new adventure in life? Most of all, don’t be afraid to be different. Visualize all those years Einstein stood alone defending his ideas.

Unfortunately, many times our educational system is the first arena where our individual creativity is questioned by the group. Debate and denial of your belief system, and your questions, ingrains in a developing curiosity the message to keep quiet. Don’t rock the boat. You’re probably wrong anyway, so why have others laugh at you, or shun you? This turns off many young people. In a similar way, this same thing can happen to adults in various arenas or environments. In some jobs, religious philosophies and churches, governmental service, and military duty, many individuals merely follow along and do not utilize their curiosity and creativity like they should.

I encourage you to look closely at yourself. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Though you may not be the genius that Einstein was, and not be capable of standing against the Tsunami of world opinion, you are capable of being creative. Fill your life with curiosity. Don’t pass the opportunities to feel the same sense of wonder in life as Einstein did. We are all average fellows in one way or another, but it is our curiosity and wonder, that makes us great. Think about it... Until later, Colleen

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Copyright  2008     Leland Pulley