Curiosity killed the cat; good thing I’m allergic.

Throughout my life, my yearning for knowledge and deep curiosity has been the driving force behind my actions and my successes. When I was told that curiosity killed the cat, I must not have been listening.

I also didn’t hear the not-so-pro, pro-tip to not talk to strangers. Since I was a child, I have always been the one to chat with any and everyone around me. Rather than being fearful, I was fascinated. The stories I’ve heard and people I’ve met have reinforced this revelation of mine that talking to strangers isn’t so strange; it enhances your experiences.

And experiencing life to the fullest is a favorite pastime of mine. I grew up hearing that I needed to slow myself down before I burned out, but honestly, I like the fire that grew in me. The constant hustle and bustle of my life never burned, only fueled. And this fuel has sparked my passions that led to my pursuits and ended with my happiness in life.

But life is fleeting and time is valuable. Just as I keep busy, I have to keep myself ahead. I’ve heard that slow and steady wins the race but found that fast and sudden is sometimes the better call. Spontaneity leads to possibility and I can accomplish beyond what I think is possible. With rash decisions come adventure and unanticipated opportunities.

Life, however, also has the opportunity to bring you down. Though I heard that sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me, I learned early the power of my words and their potential to build someone up or just as quickly break them down. This power of words has inspired me to use mine to connect with others and speak about my opinions and concerns.

And while growing up, my parents were always concerned that if my friends jumped off a bridge I would too. Little did they know, I was the one jumping in the first place and diving headfirst into whatever life had to throw at me.

So even without learning the lessons I was meant to, I turned out OK, and hopefully, the cat did too.