This is a simple game I play sometimes when I’m feeling uninspired. It helps me get back my sense of curiosity.
Grab any object within reach — human-made or natural — and start asking questions about it. You might start with “what is this?” and then go from there. The object of the game is to get to questions that you don’t know the answer to, then go find the answers. You’ll be surprised as how quickly you get there, and how it begins to spark your imagination. Maybe it’s just me, but I find it inspiring to realize just how little I know.
I did this recently with an old license plate I had in my garage. It went something like this:
Q. What is this?
A. A license plate.
Q. Where did it come from?
A. My old Honda Accord.
Q. How was it made?
A. Sheet metal was pressed in a stamping machine, maybe at a prison somewhere.
Q. How do they change the numbers on each one?
A. I’m not sure, but they must have parts of the stamping die that are movable or replaceable.
Q. What is it made of?
A. Steel. Specifically, galvanized steel so it won’t rust.
Q. What is galvanized steel?
A. Steel with a thin coating of tin, I think.
Q. How to they coat the steel with tin?
A. Uh… I DON’T KNOW!
And there you have it. I had something to look up and learn about. A part of the everyday inspired me to get off my butt and learn something. Usually that is all I need to get me moving. Looking up one thing leads to another and then before you know I am coming up with new ideas.
