Episode 183 - Building Knowledge

While you are building your dreams, the next best feeling is to help others build theirs, especially if they are a young dreamer.

Right now there is one dream that occupies the mind of a little boy I know. It's the dream to see his favorite building - the Empire State Building.

It's one of those lifelong dreams. The kind that started five weeks ago, but feels like it will never be fulfilled.

Except, it was fulfilled...just this week.

He got to see it, go up in it, and eat pizza outside of it. And, see the New York City skyline. It just took a little time and money (tolls and admission fees!).

It's amazing to track the interests of a young brain. What starts as a love for Mickey Mouse and Lightening McQueen, morphs into learning types of cars, and sizes of America's biggest cities.

Researching cities online led to comparing their sizes and noticing the buildings that filled their skylines. More questions came to mind during the searches - What's the biggest building in the world? How many skyscrapers are in each city? How do they all compare to each other? What's the difference between a skyscraper and a tower?

And, one question that Google has yet to answer - Do buildings have feelings?

Take a listen as this little guy wakes up one morning and shares his insights and questions, while I turn on an audio app and start recording. There's a lot more than he offers here. Notice the data, the math, the thoughts about architecture and engineering, the comparisons, and the history. Plus, a few thoughts about building emotions.

Our brains are amazing. We are born with this capacity. School doesn't do the capabilities we have justice. It's our job to create these learning opportunities for ourselves and those we coach, mentor, or raise up.

Listening to this episode (and other recordings I'm capturing from a tiny person brain) reminds me that no matter what we have going on in our lives, it is worth taking time to pursue something we love with intensity. It brings us joy and more knowledge. It also brings insights and joy to those that get to watch us learn and grow. And, some of the bystanders will be compelled to step up and help your dreams come true. Sometimes in faster time that you can imagine.