Follow the wonder. See what happens.
Hello Friends!
“Curiosity killed the cat.” 🐱
If you’re of a certain age, you probably heard this phrase growing up. And if you’re like me, you may have absorbed the message without giving it much thought:
Don’t be too curious.
Don’t ask too many questions.
Don’t poke around where you don’t belong.
Don’t get yourself into trouble.
Curiosity, apparently, was dangerous.
But lately, I’ve been thinking about curiosity differently.
I’ve always been a curious person. But perhaps this season of life gives us even more reason to lean into it.
When so much is changing—sometimes by choice and sometimes not—curiosity gives us another way to meet what comes next.
Instead of needing to know, “What am I supposed to do now?”
We might simply ask:
“I wonder…”
I wonder what would happen if…
I wonder why I feel so strongly about that…
I wonder what I’m learning about myself in this season…
I wonder what might be possible if I tried something new…
Follow the wonder.
Because here's the thing about curiosity: wondering isn't quite enough.
We can wonder about something for months—or years—and never actually find out.
At some point, curiosity asks us to take a small step toward the question.
Not a giant leap.
Not a five-year plan.
Not a commitment to a whole new identity.
Just an experiment. 🔬
I wonder if I'd enjoy watercolor…
→ I'll take one class.
I wonder if I'd feel better with less on my calendar…
→ I'll leave one afternoon unscheduled.
I wonder what it would be like to reconnect with her…
→ I'll send the text.
I wonder if I really don't like doing that anymore…
→ I'll give myself permission to stop.
The experiment doesn't have to be profound. In fact, I think the smaller the better.
Try something.
Change something.
Say yes to something.
Say no to something.
Take a different route.
Read the book.
Go somewhere you've never been.
Ask the question you've been avoiding.
And then pay attention.
How did it land?
Did you feel energized? Curious for more? Relieved? Bored? Uncomfortable? Surprisingly alive?
You don't have to know the answer before you begin.
The experiment helps you discover it.
Curiosity can lead to discernment.
I think this is where curiosity can become particularly useful in midlife and beyond.
We don't have to make every question into a decision. Sometimes we simply need more information.
We try something.
We notice.
We learn.
And perhaps we discover that what we thought we wanted isn't actually what we want anymore.
Or perhaps we discover something we didn't know we were missing.
Maybe we realize we're not interested in starting something new at all. Maybe what we really want is to simplify.
Maybe we discover that the thing we've been saying “someday” about deserves a little attention now.
That's discernment.
Not having all the answers, but becoming more aware of what fits—and what doesn't.
You don't have to know. You can wonder.
I think one of the gifts of this season of life is that, for many of us, we have less to prove.
We've lived enough life to know ourselves better.
We've made mistakes. We've changed our minds. We've survived things we weren't sure we'd survive. We've learned that sometimes the plans we made don't turn out the way we imagined—and sometimes the unexpected turns out to be pretty wonderful.
So perhaps we can loosen our grip on needing to know exactly what's next.
Instead of:
What am I supposed to do now?
We might ask:
What am I curious about?
What am I wondering about?
What has caught my attention lately?
What question keeps coming back?
What would I like to try—not because I know I'll love it, but simply because I'm curious?
And then…
Follow the wonder.✨
Take one tiny step.
See what happens.
Because you don't have to know the answer to be willing to explore the question.
And maybe that's one of the gifts of curiosity:
It lets us explore without having to decide.
(And I'm pretty sure curiosity didn't kill that cat.)
Come Curious
This is actually part of what we'll be exploring at my next In This Season gathering:
The Chapter You Never Imagined.
Because most of us didn't imagine exactly where we'd be at this point in our lives. Some things turned out better than expected. Some things didn't. Some chapters were chosen. Others were handed to us.
And now we're here.
Rather than needing to have the next chapter figured out, what if we got curious about it?
What might this season be inviting us to notice?
What might we want to explore?
What part of ourselves wants more room?
What might happen if we tried something new?
We'll have space to reflect, talk, laugh, and explore some of those questions together.
You don't have to know what's next.
Come curious.
Come wonder.
Come explore.
Details:
📍Basalt Cellars - 906 Port Drive, Clarkston, WA
📅Wednesday, August 26, 2026
⏰3:00–5:30 p.m.
💲$20 (includes sales tax, a glass of wine or another beverage, and light snacks)
🔗Register here: In This Season: The Chapter You Never Imagined
I'd love to have you join us.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Before we rush toward the next season, let's enjoy the one we're in.
There are still plenty of summer days ahead. Long evenings. A little more light. Spontaneous plans. Time outside. Maybe a slower morning or an unexpected conversation.
So, what if we got curious about today?
I wonder what this day might bring.
I wonder what might delight me.
I wonder who I might encounter.
I wonder what I might notice if I slow down enough to pay attention.
I wonder how I can show up for myself today—and how I can show up for someone else.
And perhaps just as importantly:
I wonder how someone might show up for me.
We don't have to make every day extraordinary. We don't have to squeeze every last drop of productivity or meaning out of it.
Maybe we simply stay open to what is here.
So as we make our way through these remaining weeks of summer, my invitation is simple:
Be curious. Be present. Enjoy the day you're in.
You never know what might be waiting for you there.
Warmly,
Judy
jUDY ROONEY, MSW
Mindset | Habits | Well-being Coaching
Once Upon A Habit
onceuponahabit.com
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