Curiosity Takes Courage

I've got a confession to make.  I hope you're sitting down.  The truth of the matter is it's not easy to be a researcher.  There.  I said it.  It's out there.  Now let me explain.

You see, I'm the type of person who doesn't want to intrude.  I don't want to make others feel uncomfortable.  When I meet someone, I want them to feel at ease, and often that's just carrying on small talk that I know is safe and predictable.  You know, the "Hi.  How are you?" kind of conversation.

As a researcher, this would get me nowhere.  In fact, that's exactly where I got on my first day into the weavers' village.  Here's my "confession":

So that's it.  It's time for me to become a more courageous researcher by taking risks, jumping outside of my comfort zone, and asking questions.  Instead of thinking that I'm being nosy, I need to realize that it's just a different way to connect with people by finding out their stories. 


Image from:  www.sodahead.com