Karen Brooks

There’s a famous scene in season one of the Apple TV show “Ted Lasso” during which the antagonist, Rupert, loses a bet after underestimating the title character’s dart-throwing skills. The encounter inspires Ted to reflect on the quote “Be curious, not judgmental” (which he mistakenly attributes to Walt Whitman, but that’s a topic for another day).

For decades I’ve described myself as nosy, but after watching this scene, I realized “curious” is the better term. I want to learn as much as I can about everyone I meet—their families, their fears, their work, what makes them tick the fastest and loudest.

And then I want to tell their stories.