Watching a concert pianist from the keyboard’s point of view offers insight into their talents. If we always observe events from the same viewpoint or sit in the same seats, we are missing out on gaining additional perspectives. As a former collegiate cross-country skier, I recall that the NCAA champion skier on our team would preview the final kilometer of the race course by skiing it in reverse before turning around and skiing it as we raced. He gained more understanding of the course profile by seeing it backward before practicing it forward.

How might we seek out new points of view to better understand the place we occupy? How might we remain curious even when our patterns are habitual?