The Thrill of Literally Lossing Your Way

You know what I absolutely love doing?

Getting lost, I think it’s probably one of the most exhilarating and enjoyable things. I think I love it for the same reasons people love roller coasters. It is scary, but a safe scary. See I am never apposed to asking people for directions (when I am in dire need of them) and I always seem to have something to make me feel safe…. I.e. my cell phone.

Getting lost really breaks up the monotony of the day. You end up some place new. You find a new route to an old place. The sights and sounds are new even. When I’m lost I just slow down and enjoy what I see because it won’t last long till everything is again familiar and the same.

I was going to visit my grandparents last Friday and took the subway, which is not my normal way, and thus I had to find their apartment from a new location. That’s not quite ‘lost’ since I do know what town I’m in and my general vicinity to their apartment. But I still had no clue which way to turn when I exited the station. It’s great fun just to walk down the street hoping your going the right way. I even must exude some kind of extra confidence when I’m lost because so many more whistles and honks from construction workers I got. I think it’s partly because I try to look like I know where I am so no one asks me if I need help. Because though I don’t know where to go next to tell someone that would wreck the experience, as they would give me directions and again it would become normal and complacent.

But I think everyone should try such a kind of getting lost. Next time you have to go some place but have no definite time you must be there. Just head in that general direction but don’t take your normal route. If you’re in a car and you normally take the highway take back roads, if you normally take back roads turn on a road you’ve never taken before, and if your walking head down a new street. Get your self purposefully lost and then find a new way back. Take it slow (be safe too) and just enjoy all the newness and excitement.