A Quest Begins

He is the life of parties he's never attended.

He lives vicariously through himself.

He once had an awkward moment, just to see what it feels like.

He's a lover, not a fighter... but he's also a fighter, so don't get any ideas.

He speaks fluent French, in Russian.

These are just a few of the descriptions that make up the Dos Equis “Most Interesting Man in the World”. These commercials are credited with a 22% rise in Dos Equis beer sales in America over a four year period (tripled its sales in Canada).

Clearly, “interesting” or things that are interesting can be very powerful. When we find something interesting it affects the way we think and act around it; it focuses our attention and sparks our curiosity. Something interesting is held in a class above the everyday, the mundane and combines both unique and special qualities.

But what makes something interesting? That in itself is a trick question. Interesting, or the quality of being interesting, is not a manufactured state. It is inherent in both the object of appreciation itself and the eye of the beholder. People will find different things interesting and interesting things to one person can be the very essence of boring (the opposite of interesting) to another. This subjective experience of discovering The Interesting marks a connection between the two on a deep and instinctive level that neither have any control over. To actively try and create or become “interesting” is impossible, for while you may believe what you are making is interesting you cannot assume that anyone else will agree and to “create” something interesting for yourself is to fail to realize how you already find the subject matter itself interesting and thus are just making an object based on a preexisting interest. Rather, instead of trying to make The Interesting happen, one must allow it to come into their lives naturally; allowing their own inner curiosity and wonder take them as they discover it.

In this blog I will document my own personal journey to discover my own Most Interesting Person in the World and to develop my awareness of the interesting qualities in everything around me. I am fully aware that the people I will chronicle on this quest may not seem interesting to any readers who happen upon this blog. But as I have said, finding something interesting is a subjective experience and I am not writing to tell you that “This IS the most interesting person in the World” or that you will even find anything interesting about them. These are people whom I find personally interesting, and while it is my hope that you will somehow share these feelings, I am not expecting anything.