curiosity, kitten

The air is vibrant and crisp tonight, saturated with the perfume of autumn. I take a stroll down 34th Street and around the Campus Green, my iPhone jiggling in the pocket of my cousin's over-sized sweatpants, a warm cup of chai clasped lovingly between my two hands. It is October, my favorite month of the year, and I feel incredibly passionate today. I can feel the thirst for more streaming through my veins, each pulsating heartbeat enhancing the cascade. What a day to be alive! Something about today is just, well, just wonderful. I had the lovely opportunity of exploring Narberth a bit this morning, something that I, regrettably, get very little time to do with my chaotic, grown-up graduate school lifestyle. I love to explore. My sense of inquiry and wonder can never be satiated, and I continually find myself in awe of the world that surrounds me and longing for more of it. There is so much that I want to see, touch, taste, hear, feel... Today it was the cold, metal quarter inserts of the vintage launderette downtown, the welcoming, wooden pews of the local Presbyterian church, and some sweet schnecken from a village corner store. I wish I had more time to indulge my curiosity. We often spend time dreaming of the exotic, while so much of what surrounds us goes unexamined. I have been working on my autumnal mission (see: "hello, life.") and, while I have in no way stumbled upon the meaning of life or even conquered my own backyard, for that matter, I am quite happy with the progress that I have made thus far. Today, for the first time, I made it my goal to pay very close attention to the facial expressions of those around me. What a difference this has made! Did you ever notice how you can pass hundreds of other human beings in your day without ever looking a single one in the eye, without even noticing his/her face? Even when we do, more often than not it is with a passing glance or an unconscious gander. I realized that by taking the time to look toward the face of everyone I interacted with, and even some of those I did not, that my entire day was experienced differently. I felt more in tune with humanity, a sense of communion and connection with those around me. It was quite wonderful, actually. The kindness in someone's smile. The pain behind a pair of sad eyes. All the little details that bond us to one another, that help shed a little light on the mystery that lies within each of us... how amazing! It saddens me to think of how narcissistic our society is, and I am no exception. I encourage you to break through the self-centered cycle we have cradled ourselves in; just look around you. It is incredible what a little curiosity can do, and I have a feeling that I have years and years before it kills this kitten.