“Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why.”

Bernard Baruch

It never ceases to amaze me how some people can see things that others miss and overlook. It’s not that they are better or smarter, they just look at things with a perpetual need to understand why things happen the way they do.

This past weekend I was doing some work around the house and my son Davis (who is seven) was helping me. I love showing and teaching him how to do things and it reminds me of how much I completely take for granted because I have known or done things for so long. We were installing a new door lock and he was using the power screwdriver and we were breaking it down into the components of how to do it the right way. Teaching him how to do this effectively was a great reminder for me on the power of “why” as he asked questions and began to understand the nuances of working with his hands.

This experience reminded me of how powerful the word “why” is in the hands of a child and how perhaps we could all use more time learning and questioning the world around us. It is way too easy to take for granted all the things you know and for your mind to go on autopilot. Stepping back and seeking to understand by asking the simple “why” question is so very valuable.