Of tinkers and explorers
The other day, my car broke down. It wasn’t a major issue, but it was inconvenient enough to throw a wrench into my plans. After a long day of classes, I was ready to head home, but the car refused to start. As it turned out—unsurprisingly in near-freezing temperatures—the battery was dead. With no jumper cables on hand and no way to fix the issue on the spot, I had to leave the car in the parking lot and deal with it the next day with some help.
That evening, Kamila, a friend and fellow student, saved the day by offering me a ride home. On our way back, we talked about all sorts of things, and at one point, she told me about her partner. Apparently, he’s deeply invested in his bike—not just riding it but meticulously maintaining it. He spends hours on the balcony cleaning, disassembling, reassembling, and polishing it to perfection. He’s not a professional mechanic or anything; it’s just a passion of his.
Kamila found it endearing, maybe even charmingly eccentric. As for me, I found it fascinating—mainly because it felt so different from how I see the world. Listening to her story, a thought took shape in my mind: there’s this duality I’ve often noticed among people, especially men. I decided to call it "Tinkers and Explorers."
Tinkers are those who are drawn to the tangible. They love the nuts and bolts, the small details they can tweak and perfect. Whether it’s a bike, a car, or a piece of technology, they find immense satisfaction in improving, refining, and mastering the physical. Their focus is unwavering, their hands perpetually occupied, their joy derived from the tangible progress of their work.
On the other hand, there are Explorers—the dreamers and thinkers. Their passions tend to revolve around ideas rather than objects. Instead of focusing on what they can hold and modify, they immerse themselves in concepts, theories, or abstract pursuits. They explore new intellectual landscapes with the same intensity that Tinkers devote to their projects. Whether it’s a field of study, an uncharted creative pursuit, or a role they throw themselves into with relentless curiosity, Explorers are driven by the metaphorical unknown.
I couldn’t help but reflect on where I fit in this framework. If I’m honest, I’ve always leaned more toward being an Explorer. The idea of spending hours fine-tuning a bike or car would lose its charm for me pretty quickly. I admire the dedication of Tinkers, but it’s not a skill set I naturally possess. While I might envy their focus and ability to find joy in the tangible, I’ve come to accept that my passions lead me elsewhere.
And that’s okay. After all, fish aren’t meant to fly. We all have our domains—our seas and skies—and there’s beauty in that diversity. Tinkers and Explorers may have different callings, but the world needs both to keep turning. Perhaps the real adventure is in learning to appreciate the value of both perspectives, even if we can't embody them equally.