Adult Curiosity Turns Inward

Today, I would like to write about how the curiosity discovered after retirement turns toward one's inner self. I have begun to think that this might be what a truly rich way of life and well-being are all about.

I participated in an event with the interesting name, "A Meeting Where We Can Talk About This." I was also given the opportunity to speak, and I shared what I could talk about in my own way.

The facilitator, Takibi-san, who organized the event, presented this slide to explain the purpose.

It is a very interesting research result.

Generally, I thought that children and young people had stronger curiosity and that curiosity decreased with age. I did think that, but for me, having reached the milestone of 60 years old this year, these words resonated surprisingly smoothly and deeply.

That is because my curiosity has been increasing steadily until I reached the age of sixty.

However, the type of curiosity has changed.

It is a change in quality; children's curiosity is directed outward, but adult curiosity is directed toward one's own inner self.

The direction of curiosity

Looking back, during my active years as a company employee working recklessly, my curiosity was completely directed outward.

In an industry with rapid changes, I desperately polished my skills and acquired qualifications in multiple departments to meet the required roles.

At that time, absorbing new knowledge, grasping market trends, and achieving results within the organization might have been the driving force of my curiosity.

It was a simple curiosity to know the unknown world.

It might have been an extension of the curiosity of a child who continues to do what they like as much as they want.

However, after taking early retirement in 2022 and setting aside the attributes and titles of a company employee, there was a major change in my state of mind.

I was freed from external pressures such as social evaluation, comparison with others, or the need to aim higher.

Then, my curiosity literally turned around and began to head toward my own inner self.

What exactly do I find comfort in?
What are the things I truly want to cherish for the rest of my life?

I have started thinking about these things constantly. Instead of chasing trends and stimuli in the outside world, I have begun to spend time on introspection.

Listening to the voice of the true self within. That is the first step of adult curiosity.

The state of mind of 'knowing what is enough'

When adult curiosity turns inward, one's way of life becomes much simpler.

When I thought about my own happiness, I reached the realization that it is not about 'becoming happy,' but 'being happy.'

When I was young, I counted the things I didn't have and spent my energy looking outward to acquire them.

However, what sustains me now is the ability to notice the abundance that is already here.

For example, the time spent watching my cats curled up comfortably.

The moments of feeling the changing seasons while taking a leisurely walk.

I am reminded that there is infinite room for exploration within such casual, everyday life.

I don't think 'knowing what is enough' means compromising with the status quo and playing it safe.

Rather, I interpret it as the ability to pour a higher purity of curiosity into the essential interests within myself, as a result of stripping away external desires.

Though I suppose it might also feel like I am justifying my own second life, where I have stepped away from social life and no longer work...

New hobbies to start from the age of sixty

Curiosity directed outward is an action easily visible to others.

Curiosity directed inward is about facing oneself. Therefore, because you stop caring about the eyes of others, you can act purely on what you truly wanted to try.

Whether outward or inward, curiosity is about actively taking on challenges.

Now, for me, the greatest examples of curiosity turned inward are music and learning.

The time I spend playing and singing my favorite Stardust Revue or Southern All Stars songs while flipping through my handmade chord sheets has become an important retreat where I can immerse myself and express my inner world.

Furthermore, now that I am this age, I am holding electronic drum sticks as a novice drummer.

This is truly interesting. Unlike when I was young, I have no external goal like wanting to become better than anyone else or forming a band.

I am simply enjoying the frustration of my hands and feet not moving the way I want them to, and enjoying the process of gradually being able to keep a rhythm.

I feel this is the real thrill of learning as an adult.

Writing on note

The decline of curiosity with age might seem negative at first glance.

However, it may just mean that the antenna pointed outward has finished its role, and it is time to shift toward introspection.

It would have been nice if I had maintained a balance between outward and inward curiosity when I was an active company employee, but I was likely too busy to have the capacity to turn inward.

I intend to continue weaving the trajectory of my own inward-turning curiosity into words through this place called note.

I have written over 800 articles so far, and the act of writing itself is also the best means of expressing my inner self.

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