I was walking through a neighbourhood I had never visited before. Of course, I used Google Maps to navigate my way to my destination. And no doubt, it was efficient, accurate, and got me there without a single wrong turn. In fact, it even told me which junction to cross the road at. Everything had been perfect. I was in a rush and arrived on time. It was only when I started my journey back home that I realised I had missed a beautiful park along the way and a lovely church right across the street.
Missed, not because they weren't there, but because I wasn't really looking around. I was focused on the map. In short, I had arrived at my destination, but I hadn't really noticed where I had been.
That was the moment I realised how navigation apps have changed more than just the way we travel. I mean, I used to blame Social Media for my shrinking attention span. Turns out, the list of culprits might be a little longer!
Before GPS, I remember looking for landmarks. My mom still gives directions that way- "the lane opposite the cinema hall," "the bakery near the wall with the mural," or "the shop next to that old building." And her directions often came with a little story attached. Like the time she told me how she used to skip classes to visit the old cinema hall that now sits opposite the shop I frequently visit. Somehow, that made the place more than just a location on a map; it became a memory.
Places were remembered through little details, stories, and the people connected to them.
And now here I am, moving from point A to point B, following a blue dot.
Don't get me wrong, technology has made life incredibly easier. But somewhere along the way, we may have outsourced a small part of our observation skills to a piece of software.
Some research suggests that relying heavily on GPS can affect the way we build mental maps and remember our surroundings. The technology isn't the villain; it is incredibly useful. But perhaps it has quietly changed our relationship with the places we move through.
So this weekend, I am trying a small experiment.
I will open Google Maps, understand the route and remember landmarks, make a mental note, put my phone away in my bag, and walk. The idea is simple: to notice what we usually miss.
A mural on a forgotten wall. A tiny neighbourhood shop. A bakery we would have walked past. A beautiful piece of architecture. A perfect frame waiting to be photographed.
Before autumn arrives, maybe we can slow down just enough to notice a little more of the world around us.
Wishing you a weekend with at least one walk where the blue dot disappears for a while.