Possibilities

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few.

-- Shunryu Suzuki

This concept needs to soak a bit....

The more we think or do something, the more familiar we become with it,  The more familiar we become with something, the more we tend to start holding on to our notions of it -- what we think we are are seeing or have already seen.  I see this in the smallest areas of our lives up through what we accept at even a societal level.  More problematic, perhaps, is that when we're doing this, we also tend not to see other things  -- problems with what we are used to, new ideas, etc. -- because we're looking for evidence of things we've already become accustomed to.

As we age, maintaining a beginner's mind feels like it takes more and more effort.  Perhaps it does.  On the other hand, keeping such a mindset may be part of what can keep us open, excited, curious...younger.