The curious mind

“i wonder who has walked here before me”

This is something I frequently ask myself. When I’m in a town or city, but especially when in a woodland space. An open field. By a wild river bank.

If you have ever wondered this, then me and you would get on just fine. Even more questions bounce around my head when like the picture above, I’m in an area with archaeological evidence, that shows people have been there for thousands of years. In the case of the picture above, it has approx 5000-6000 years of history dating back to the bronze age. Every possibility that it could go beyond that too.

As I stood looking down this valley, which is a great defensive position, I wondered, how many battles took place here between conflicting tribes? Did the Romans face much adversary when they first laid eyes upon the ancient hill fort that exists? Did the occupiers see the far superior force and run? Or did they stand strong and defend what was theirs?

Am I the only one to wonder these things?

The English Author Samuel Johnson described curiosity beautifully.

“the thirst of the soul”

I really like that.

Be curious in life. Ask questions, even if only to yourself. There is always room for learning. There is always room for growing. There is no limit to how broad our knowledge can be or should be.