More Beautiful Questions

The world is a tough place for so many right now.  Trying to navigate the responses to the global pandemic as well as turmoil in the Middle East, not to mention the day to day issues in the news and our own trials and tribulations.  It’s tough to stay positive.  What I’m noticing is that more and more I sense an overall feeling of frustration, helplessness and hopelessness.  People are struggling.  It’s hard not to complain and dwell on the negativity or be caught up in the stream of “this is all too much” on a daily basis. 

During the Covid lockdown of 2020, I passed time binge watching the Canadian television production, “Heartland”.  All 13 seasons.  C’mon…..amazing scenery, horses, loveable characters, horses….what’s not to like? With the announcement of Season 14 came the news that one of the two very popular main characters would not be returning.  Now this show has a worldwide following and a huge fan base.  This was not going to sit well with the show’s devoted audience.  So, in an abundance of desire to console the fans and a need to appease the rising mob threatening to never watch again, the two actors who play the main characters, Amber Marshall and Graham Wardle, did a two-episode podcast to explain reasons and try to resurrect the loyalty to the show. They talked about how this new storyline arc could be a great lesson about overcoming loss and grief (producers opted to kill off the character of Ty, played by Wardle, who wanted to move on).  I’m not sure it made fans of the show feel any better (can you say “devastated”?), but during the podcast the idea of “more beautiful questions” came up. 

The two talked about how when bad things happen, we have a tendency to ask “why?”, “why me?”, “why now?”.  The book “A More Beautiful Question” by Warren Berger was referenced.  It sounded like something worth reading, the premise being: how we can turn the “why?” questions into “what if?” and “how?” so that more good can come from life circumstances and turn our perspective to positivity if possible.  So I thought I might eventually add the book to my ever-growing reading list.  

At the exact same time the podcasts were aired, we had a major wind event in our area.  After many days of heavy rain and saturated ground, tree roots of our native, very tall pine trees did not hold up to 70+mph winds. Hundred foot trees toppled like toothpicks.  One of those trees landed smack in the middle of our son and daughter-in-law’s home.  Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the damage was extensive and house unlivable.  When I say unlivable, I mean there was a giant tree trunk in their kitchen and massive branches spreading to different parts of the house.  Electrical system destroyed, giant hole in the roof and it was January when temps are akin to the North Pole.  We scrambled to move the necessary worldly belongings, their little family of four, and their two dogs into our basement. Without power to their house, water pipes froze and added a flood to the damage.  Needless to say, no one was asking “beautiful” questions.  But remembering the podcast, it did make sense to ask, “what good can come from this?”

I recently got around to actually reading “A More Beautiful Question”.  I was so inspired by many of the stories and ideas that the pages are marked extensively with pink highlighter.  As I’ve mentioned in past blog posts, I have a questioning mind and this book convinced me that being a questioner is a very good thing.  Knowing how to ask the right questions is even better.  Berger explains how doing so can turn the tide of education, business or life in general. 

I could post quote after quote as so many things in this book resonated, but there was one section that seems especially timely for me since I started this blog journey.  Paul Bennett of IDEO, a global design company, said, “Stop. Take a snapshot of this moment. Remember this. I think you need to be a good self-censor of the madness in the crowd and be able to pause and see something in the midst of all that – something interesting, something that matters, that you can share with others.”  His beautiful questions are these: “How do we continually find inspiration so that we can inspire others? What do you want to say? Why does it need to be said? What if you could say it in a way that has never been done before?”

How are you doing with life right now? If things seem overwhelming, ask the “what if?” and “how?” questions and see where they might take you.  The subtitle of the book says, “The power of inquiry to spark breakthrough ideas.”  Maybe it’s time to start asking the more beautiful questions and see where the sparks fly.   

Author note:  At this writing, after 8+ months, our kids are moving back to their own home.  It has some very nice new upgrades thanks to a very large tree.  “What good can come from this?”  A new kitchen, new floors, new electrical system, new appliances and the joy of returning to the oasis after eight months in the desert (or the basement, if you will.) 

Find the "Time Has Come" podcast with Graham Wardle and Amber Marshall here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL1DsmPwh4w&t=5s