This was the catalyst for the following thoughts. Hypercurious by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Free-willing curiosity has already changed dramatically over the past few decades, and it will shift even more in the next. The internet and search engines once liberated our quest to know more; suddenly, knowledge lived a few keystrokes away.
Then the algorithm age arrived and, with it, an overload of information, recommendations, and stimulations that blurred the lines between insight and noise.
Now we’re in a new age: artificial intelligence.
Answers to complex questions arrive in seconds, at the tap of a screen. The more pressing question is no longer can I find the answer? but what happens to human curiosity when answer arrive without friction?
So this week I am taking us through different ways we can return to friction filled knowing. The first jolt of a new flavor, to the nightly ritual of a warm shower, to the layered maps of muscle, bones, joints, and fascia, to passion as soul nourishment.
If we can keep showing up to these small moments of living, with attention and intension, then perhaps we can let AI handle speed while we reclaim depth. This edition is a little reminder on savoring the simple pleasures of each day.
I write about the small things that compound into a life well-lived: brain, mind, body, and soul. Free to join. If it’s speaking to you, becoming a patron is the best way to keep what’s being built here going.
Stimulate the brain with new flavors. When was the last time you took a novel bite, unmistakable from the first moment a new taste hits your tastebuds; pleasantly surprised, you savor the moment with delight. So captivating, that moment still feels alive in your memory. I can still remember when I first tasted Açai berries. I can still recall the exhilaration of a novel flavor. Because it’s like a dose of adrenaline through your tongue. The excitement and novelty is distinct enough, to set you off on a path of glee or maybe shock, if the flavor is not enjoyable. But, without a doubt, your brain will rewire itself from the experience; as it stores the memory of that flavor. Forever familiar, never novel again. That’s because flavor is experienced through a series of various sensory signals that’s processed in the brain.
The gentle drizzle of warm water in the comforts of my shower at home, right before bedtime, is one of my favorite ways to close out the day. For those of us who grew up appalled at the idea of jumping into bed with our “outside clothes,” it’s a cherished nightly ritual—and we’d never dream of snuggling into the sacred space of duvet and pillows without a proper cleanse. Feeling clean, fresh, and relaxed before sleep is one of the simplest pleasures I treasure each night. The privilege of a warm shower and a comfortable bed is something I am grateful for. Because research agrees, that a warm shower and a hot bath can help to complement the time it takes for you to fall asleep. How do you rest and recover at night?
Train the body with your curiosity. When was the last time you looked at a map of human anatomy—muscle, bones, joints, fascia, and all of its complexities? I had an anatomy poster, visible to me everyday, and when you really look at how layered our structure is, it’s hard not to appreciate the many ways a body supports our living. Seeing the body as a multidirectional, dynamic, multi-system organism, I don’t believe there’s only one “right” path to training the body. As a species, you and I are also notoriously progressive: as in, we’re never static, always changing, and therefore, the way we train our bodies should shift with our life stage and interests too. Humanity is a mixed bag of jumbled genes, with an endless array of combinations, that’s entirely unique to you. This distinction is what makes the question of “what’s the best type of training for a body” an evolving and never-ending puzzle. So, approach movement with the kind of enthusiasm of your other hobbies. The options are endless, the potential for progress is lifelong and why individualized programming for your health and well-being should be the standard. If it’s not within your budget to hire a one on one personal trainer, connecting your health app to an LLM model of your choice and building your own virtual PT is another way I’ve been seeing AI used in a helpful way. Build your own virtual PT anyone? Let me know how it goes if you try it out.
Leaning into your passions as nourishment for the soul. As adults, we’re bombarded with obligations and responsibilities. There’s rarely a quiet moment to sit still. The least we can do is honor where your curiosities naturally lean, because the more we do the things that makes our soul sings, the more we’ll benefit too. And honestly, I think sometimes as adults, we all need a reminder to learn to take life less seriously. Life will always have ups and downs, so let’s make the struggle we inevitably will encounter worthwhile. Science says: curiosity is beneficial for our health and wellbeing.
Fluffy protein pancakes with alcohol-free blueberry compote.
