Summary of Por qué cae la curiosidad con la edad y cómo podemos revertirlo

00:00:00 - 00:20:00

In this TEDx talk, the speaker reflects on the evolution of their curiosity over time and the impact that age and anxiety have had on it. They discuss their vivid childhood memory of exploring structures made of reeds or canes on a beach in Puerto pirámides and how it taught them the value of courage and determination. The speaker then talks about the decline of curiosity in adulthood, which they attribute to factors such as business personification, anxiety about not knowing something, the stifling of creativity in education, and the fear of failure. They suggest that people can rekindle their curiosity by embracing uncertainty, being open to new ideas and perspectives, and focusing more on questions and discovery.

• 00:00:00 In this section, the speaker recounts a vivid memory from their childhood when they were five years old. They were on vacation with their parents in Puerto pirámides, a place in Argentina known for its beach. While playing on the beach, the speaker was fascinated by pulpitos ( structures made of reeds or canes ). They went exploring with a balde ( a bucket ) to look for these structures. As they walked, they met another couple with their daughters, including an eight-year-old girl who was not their daughter. The speaker struck up a conversation with the girl, who expressed excitement about the landscape. As they continued walking, the ground began to rise up into a vertical cliff. The speaker and the others continued to climb higher and higher until they reached the top of the cliff. They looked out at the vast ocean and realized that the only way to get back down was to climb back down the same way they had come up. However, the speaker was frightened of heights and had to overcome their fear in order to make it back safely. With determination, the speaker and the others began to climb the cliff once again. As they descended, they noticed the landscape changing. Eventually, they reached the bottom of the cliff and made their way back to the beach. Their parents were worried and had come looking for them, but the group was safe and sound. Looking back on this memory, the speaker is grateful for the experience and the insights it provided about courage and determination.
• 00:05:00 In this section of the TEDx talk titled "Por qué cae la curiosidad con la edad y cómo podemos revertirlo," the speaker discusses the role of curiosity in his life and how it has evolved over time. The speaker describes how curiosity has driven him to pursue various activities, such as traveling, investigating topics, and creating a column. He emphasizes the importance of asking questions and the joy that comes from discovering new things. The speaker also acknowledges that as he gets older, he feels like his curiosity is fading and that he is becoming more anxious and productive. He laments the loss of the time and space to be curious and creative. Ultimately, the speaker sees his curiosity as a defining trait that he hopes to preserve and cultivate through his work as a writer and investigator.
• 00:10:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of curiosity and how it declines with age. The speaker attributes this decline to several factors. Firstly, the personification of business as being anti-leisure, with activities like coffee breaks being used to improve productivity, rather than for leisure purposes. Secondly, as people age, they experience anxiety about not knowing something, which leads to a lack of interest in exploring new ideas or trying new things. The speaker suggests that embracing a state of uncertainty and learning to reconcile with it can lead to a deeper sense of curiosity. They argue that educating oneself, approaching problems creatively rather than just seeking solutions, and generating questions before giving answers can strengthen the individual's sense of curiosity. The speaker also suggests that the formal education system can stifle curiosity by focusing on rote memorization and not promoting critical thinking. Finally, they discuss the fear of failure and pressure to have answers for all of life's challenges, leading to the decline of curiosity.
• 00:15:00 In this section, the speaker discusses how curiosity decreases with age and how it can be rekindled. They argue that people often become too focused on their own opinions and may shut down others, which limits their ability to learn. The speaker suggests the need to embrace the uncertainty and vulnerability required for exploration and growth, and to focus more on questions and discovery rather than certainty and truth. They also emphasize the importance of being open to new ideas, experiences, and perspectives.
• 00:20:00 In this section, the speaker talks about the TikTok video they posted one year ago and received 3.3 million reproductions, with 500,000 likes. They felt surprised by the impact it had. The speaker also mentions that they had never had that kind of success on any other platform, such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. They say that TikTok seems to be a very powerful and fascinating platform, despite some potential drawbacks. Finally, the speaker says that they recently posted a reunited childhood photo story of a friend on Instagram. They say that speaking about TikTok helped them understand more about the power of social media and how it can be both detrimental and beneficial to our daily lives.