Things You Learn When You're Directionally Challenged | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Things You Learn When You're Directionally Challenged

Getting lost is easy, you just start and then keep going when things stop looking familiar.

24
Things You Learn When You're Directionally Challenged
Everyday Excursions

I’ve had my share of misadventures and people who have ridden with me for longer drives can definitely confirm this. Sure, I may get lost every once in awhile or any time I try to go somewhere without a GPS, but I get there eventually and still manage to have a little fun on the way.Many who choose to travel with me accept that we won’t arrive in a timely manner or at any expected time, but they know it won’t be boring.

Before I even knew how to drive, I got lost. All the time. When you’re younger, that can be pretty scary. You’re in an unfamiliar place without an adult. For me, I always found it exciting-to an extent anyways. I would find myself noticing more people, what they did, how they spoke, things you wouldn’t notice unless you were left alone with your thoughts. It was an interesting way of seeing the world, but I loved it. I would still be incredibly happy when I found my parents again and besides, my name only got called over the speaker once or seven times. After those experiences I will forever find some odd solace in wandering stores alone. You’re able to see the world (or the store at least) through your eyes and your eyes only. It seems minor, but it can be refreshing after a while.

However, being lost in stores loses most, if not all, of its scariness once you grow older. The bigger you are the smaller the store seems I suppose. Being lost outside is a completely different story. Throughout my time, I’ve had my fair share of experiences that were pretty embarrassing. Some stories had an interesting lesson in them: if you let your emotions guide you, you will end up somewhere completely beautiful or utterly lost. In one situation, I was walking with a friend of mine and didn’t know or care where we went. When I finally decided to attempt to figure out where we were, we were on a beautiful road surrounded by wildflowers. Neither of us knew quite where the road was at the time, but in that moment it didn’t matter. Learning to be lost means relying heavily on your emotions. If you’re angry, you’ll get lost. If you’re happy, you’ll still get lost, but you’ll also find something beautiful on the way.

Sometimes you get lost on a larger scale than even your own city. While driving nowadays, if we get lost the right direction is just a Google search away. Whenever I get lost in a new city or in a different part of a city I know, I try to take in my surroundings. It isn’t so much about learning the area as it is experiencing it. You can drive by the same antique store 400 times and never know that it’s there. A lot can be learned from just experiencing the surrounding area. You can learn the history or culture of the area, the way people in this city live, or maybe just the layout of the town.


Life may be about finding your way, but I think a large part of life should involve getting lost at least once in awhile. We can learn about the world and ourselves when we’re lost. If we only go about things knowing exactly what we want to do and where we want to go, then little experiences can slip through the cracks. Had I not wandered around Peoria Heights for a good portion of the day and only gone to the restaurant I had intended, I would have never visited some of the incredible stores around it. It’s a beautiful world out there, whether you know where you are or not. The best advice I could give is to go out and explore the world with an open mind and an open heart...and maybe an open Google Maps app just in case.
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

912
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

4273
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

2624
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201997
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments