The best gift to give any human being is curiosity

“The best gift to give any human being is curiosity.”

I scrambled to open my notes app when Amy Panzarella, SPHR, SCP, ACC shared this during a Leadership West Virginia Session last week.

“Everyone knows something that I don’t” has long been a core value for me. And I truly believe that asking a good question is basically a super power.

I’d never thought of curiosity as a gift you give to someone else, though.

But, if you think about it, attention and consideration really are profound acts of generosity.

And here’s the thing about gift giving: A wise dude named Jesus once said. “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.”

When it comes to curiosity, that’s certainly true. Because when I truly listen to someone, they give me a little glimpse into their world. And every time they do, my world gets bigger, too.

This is what LEADERSHIP WEST VIRGINIA INC has been for me so far. One meaningful conversation at a time. One question that led somewhere unexpected. One story that changed how I see the state, the people in it…and even myself.

Curiosity doesn’t have to be heavy to matter. Sometimes it’s listening to what someone is passionate about. Or hearing them talk shop with words you’re not sure you understand.

Other times it’s talking about that poop cruise documentary they watched on Netflix. Or even just letting someone vent about their tire that shredded seven minutes before reaching the hotel.

(Okay, yeah, that last one was me.)

Experiencing Leadership West Virginia has truly been a gift. Experiencing it with a group of such curious people has already made it great.