“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where–” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
“–so long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation.
“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”
This passage from Alice In Wonderland is usually paraphrased (or misquoted, take your pick) as, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.”
It’s usually meant to guilt you into making plans or setting goals.
But sometimes it’s fun to get lost. Sometimes getting lost is the only way to reach your destination. So if you don’t have an end point in mind, don’t sweat it. Choose any road and walk long enough.
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Oh that’s so true. Getting lost sometimes is pretty fun and (at least in my opinion) the only way to discover exiting things.
For example I was on a school trip to China for two weeks and as usual, the teachers guide you and show you things they want you to see (of course with educating purposes) and after a tour we should make 3-people-groups to go our own way with a strict plan on what to find and where to go back. As young adults from 19 years you pretty much don’t care and go your way…getting lost heavily.
But that’s where you find natural things, amazing things. As a lover for small things I am amazed of pretty market places – stuff you normally won’t give your attention to –
It’s always important to have SOME clue on where you want to end up but on the way there it’s a frech and exciting change to get lost once or twice…or more often ;)
I intentionally got myself lost when buying my first pair of Vibrams (“toe shoes”).
Back in 2009, Vibrams were nowhere near as popular as they are now, and there was only one store in my entire CITY that sold them. I had to take a 1-hour bus ride, walk half a mile to what seemed like a forest, then enter an obscure shoe store in the middle of nowhere to see the Vibrams.
I gave myself directions for getting there, but not for coming back. (the bus route on the reverse path was completely different)
I got there, bought the shoes, and said “eh, I’ll figure it out.” It was actually pretty fun, I walked for over 5 miles and ended up on a highway before eventually calling my friend to give me directions to the nearest bus stop.
Most people would say “oh my god, I don’t want to get lost! Who knows what will happen?” But you know what? You’ll always figure out a way to get home. You’re not going to sit there until you die, even if you don’t recognize anything around you.
Did our ancient cavemen have GPS and iPhones to tell them where to go? No! They just walked around with their sticks and got around the best they could. And if they found themselves in the middle of nowhere? They’d tap another caveman on the shoulder to ask for help.
PS: Awesome new website, Karol – although I’m surprised that considering the size of your ego, you didn’t put a giant photo of your face on the top.
I truly love that quote. Sometimes real growth is hidden in those places you would never date to go.
I love to walk around the city and get “lost” from time to time, I have found awesome places that way.
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