The word savvy suggests someone who is wise, astute, discerning, perceptive, and more. As followers of The Savvy Museum Visitor, we all connect to museums in differing ways. Some of us are frequent visitors to all kinds of museums. Some of us visit an occasional museum when we’re traveling. Others of us might like museums, but tend to only go when nudged by a friend or family member. Or a few of us might have an annual membership pass to a favorite museum.
At the same time, we are savvy in more ways than just in visiting museums. We have traits or characteristics that apply when we visit museums, but also apply to our daily lives.
Which of these describe you? And give them each a moment of thought because often we brush off a description, assuming that it doesn’t fit, perhaps based on wrong assumptions of ourselves. Maybe a fourth-grade teacher told us we we’d never be an artist. Perhaps an aunt or uncle accused us of not being careful and observant when we didn’t notice something they thought we should. Or, maybe we forget that we do in fact love to learn new things, even though a freshman professor suggested our interests were very narrow.
As you read the following list, be kind to yourself and consider which of these are strong, easy descriptions of you, and which ones you might now decide to claim. And, think about which ones you might want to strengthen.
Curious. People who are curious ask questions, look up information, and join with others in groups and activities that provide opportunities to gather new insights into the world. We can be curious about training dogs, or baking cakes, or medieval history. And much more!
Creative. Many of us brush off the creative descriptor saying, “Oh, no! I’m not creative at all.” Often that’s because we wrongly assume that creativity is limited to the arts - drawing, dancing, singing, and performing. But creativity can be in the form of gardening, or planning parties, or writing thank you notes, or selecting furniture, or many other activities and pursuits.
Resilient. People with an interest in museums, culture, heritage, travel, history, and art, are generally resilient. They have learned, either through their own lives or the lives of others, to rebound or bounce back from adversity. They face challenges, acknowledge them, and then apply strategies to move forward - even if it’s hard.
Lifelong learner. Learning comes from reading books and articles. It comes from taking a class. It comes from sitting with someone and asking them to share their life story. And, it comes from going to museums, taking road trips, and exploring your community. Lifelong learning may start with formal education, but much of it is done outside a classroom.
Observant. Yes, there are some people who are incredibly observant. Most of us, however, are observant about some things more than others. We might be very tuned in to nature, or colors, or shadows, or evening stars. But we may miss when a friend gets a haircut or when the neighbor paints their house - and that’s ok.
Open-minded. Generally, savvy individuals are open-minded about all kinds of things. Different cultures. New topics. Unusual experiences. That doesn’t mean we fully embrace everything, but we are willing to learn and to expand our understanding.
Seeker of awe and wonder. People with a savvy bent may be people who stop the car to watch the sunset. Or who delight in how the ocean waves roll and splash. Or who stoop low to smell each new flower in the garden. Awe and wonder are found in everyday moments as well as in powerful and dramatic settings.
Which of these traits describe you? Which do you wish you had more of? How do you connect these to your life, whether it’s your daily life or your cultural and museum experiences?
Susan I enjoy reading your articles because they’re always an enjoyable read, and I learn something but this one was very thought provoking. Thank you Susan!
I hope I am all of those things.i am certainly curious and creative.i often ask questions about what I see and take away ideas to use or emulate in my art.