ENID — Are you curious? Think about it.

I was asked that question this week by someone who inspires us to exercise and look after our health. She was wondering what motivated people. She is writing a paper on that subject and wondering how people develop a method of being motivated, whether it be curiosity or something else that motivates and inspires them. 

I could only speak for myself. I am a curious person. I was raised that way, to always look further into something and be inquisitive about what makes things work. That even spills over into people. Why do some react in one way while another sees things different?

I was fortunate. My parents were interested in things around them. Daddy was a living history book and told us stories of Grandma and Grandpa and how this country was settled. He knew the Pawnee Indians because his best friend when he was about 5 years old was Pawnee and became a chief. I am sure they explored all of their surroundings together and learned about the land, trees, springs and vegetation.

Daddy never lost that curiosity. When he was in his 90s, he decided to raise buffaloes. He raised them until they had several calves and he got too old to fix the fence all the time. I asked him once how they tore up the fences. Did they go over them, through them or under them, and his reply was “yes.” He got too old to spend his hours mending fences. He wanted to get on with learning about something else new and exciting. 

My mother was an interested person. She learned something new every day. She instilled that trait in all of her children. Consequently, all of us have attended college or have learned a profitable career. We continue to learn and experiment with projects. We love to learn just for the sake of learning and for the joy it brings.

I am amazed and pleased our nephews and nieces want strange things for Christmas and birthdays. When other kids want games and action figures, they want binoculars and books and things that help them develop their minds.

Some people are motivated by the quest of getting ahead in their jobs. Their desire is to make more money. They are driven by a desire to succeed. They may not be particularly motivated by the actual desire for knowledge but for what it can get them.  

I loved going to school. I took class after class at Phillips University just for the joy of learning. When I took a class in geology, I knew I wanted to be a geologist. Then I took a class in writing and knew I wanted to be a writer. Every class had me hooked and I changed careers every semester. Dr. Ireland suggested I put all my hours together and get some kind of degree. I was not driven by a desire for a degree; I just wanted to go to school. Upon his advice, I did take a few more classes and graduated.

What makes a person curious? What drives them? Is it in our DNA or are we taught to be curious and motivated? I always attributed Jim’s motivation and discipline to his Marine training. However, something compelled him to join the Marine Corps in the first place. He loved the discipline and the routine of training. It is that same discipline that drives him when he is exercising at pulmonary rehab. He was not taught to be curious and disciplined at home as he followed his father around the oil fields or stayed with complete strangers who would care for him. His mother died when he was small so he was not molded by her influence. Yet he is determined and curious and wants to be well and live long. 

Life is so wonderful. We should all be curious and interested in things around us. What joy there is in learning and being with people. Regardless of whether we learn by curiosity or other incentive, we should never give up.

Curiosity drives me to try new recipes or revise all the old recipes I use some that have little or no dir-ections of how to prepare or cook. Jim loves chocolate, and I love bread pudding, so I combined the two and came up with this recipe.



Chocolate Bread Pudding

3 cups soft breadcrumbs

1⁄4 cup cocoa

1⁄2 cup chopped nuts

2 eggs

1⁄2 cup sugar

3 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1⁄4 teaspoon salt



Stir together bread crumbs, cocoa and chopped nuts. Beat eggs until foamy. Add sugar and beat well. Stir in milk, vanilla, salt and bread crumb mixture. Pour into lightly greased 13⁄4 quart casserole. Bake at 350ºF for 45 to 50 minutes until set. Serve warm with   whipped cream.



Send your comments to: Peggy Goodrich, Food For Thought, P.O. Box 1192, Enid, OK 73702.