Curiouser and Curiouser: Planting Stories That Grow

When I visited the Alice in Wonderland exhibit at the Atlantic Botanic Gardens, one display caught my attention. It was a living poster with letters made of moss and tiny plants. It spelled out “Curiouser and Curiouser.”

I stood there for a while and smiled. Those words felt like a perfect description of life. Curiosity helps us grow. It makes life interesting in a garden, in a story, and on our own journeys.

Alice followed the White Rabbit because she was curious. Without that choice, there would be no Wonderland. Our lives work the same way. The questions we ask and the things we dare to explore become the turning points we remember later.

Alice also had to deal with constant change. One moment, she was too tall. The next moment, she was too small. She had to figure out what to do each time.

Life feels like that, too. We step into new roles. We leave others behind. We find a new rhythm. These moments, whether they stretch us or humble us, become part of the story we pass on.

As I walked further, I saw images of Alice, the Cheshire Cat, and the Queen of Hearts.  Alice felt like the dreamer in all of us, the one who keeps asking questions. The Cheshire Cat reminded me of mentors and friends whose words still guide me even after they are gone. The Queen of Hearts reminded me of the rules, traditions, and challenges I have had to face to become who I am. These characters belong in the garden of our lives. Together, they make our stories richer.

That living poster reminded me that curiosity does not fade with age. It grows deeper. Every question, every story, every memory we share is like planting a seed.

Plant a few today. Write about the adventures you have had, the guides you have known, and the questions that shaped you. Someday, someone will follow those roots and blossoms back to you. And they will find themselves, just like Alice, curiouser and curiouser.