Throw away the sponge

Midnight reflections on conscious curiosity

Photo by Natalia Olivera from Pexels

‘Be like a sponge with each new experience.’

‘Stay curious and be a sponge; always keep learning.’

‘One must learn to be a sponge if one wants to be loved by hearts that overflow.’ (Friedrich Neitzsche)

I bet you’ve heard one of these ‘be a sponge’ renditions from a parent, a teacher, or a mentor at some point in your life. That last one, admittedly, is more poetic but they all encourage you to soak in the world, absorb every last bit of information around you.

Sure, that’s decent advice. And soaking is good. A sponge is also a perfectly fine tool.

As a kid, being a sponge is how you compose meaning in the world. And curiosity is an admirable trait in anyone. All in all, wise words.

Wise words that worked marvellously when the world was less online (much, much less online) and there were indeed wonderful experiences around every corner for one to discover. Experiences where you show up in person with an open mind and a positive inquisitiveness. Experiences that you would encounter over a lifetime.

But the world has shifted dramatically and we, humans, have changed in tandem. Now, a lifetime of experiences is available in minutes. And if we were to soak in every encounter, every connection, every word exchanged, every new trend, every opportunity, we would burst at the seams.

My advice? Drop the age-old maxims and the sponge. Instead, pick up the pasta strainer.

Experience life with curiosity but let go of what doesn’t serve you; retaining only the meaningful pastabilties. Filter irrelevance and things outside your control. Focus on the delicious, exciting bits first and relegate the rest for later.

Absorbing everything around you is mindless consumption. Like casting a wide net into the sea and catching more fish than you should. While you may be privy to myriad of experiences, strain and choose what you truly want to preserve. Overflow is the not same as abundance.

And remember, some of those significant moments, worth keeping, are found in the unlikeliest of life’s journeys.

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