What I have learned from google maps.

Yes. I agree. I also have complaints about google maps. I also have ended up in the middle of nowhere, on a dirty road, hitting my bumpers, searching a way out from the mess I have put myself in, trusting google maps. Google maps is improving day after day. Let's forget about the imperfections and, learn how things about how to get directions to anywhere from google maps.

How to get directions? What I learned from google maps.

Maps

When I go somewhere I would just search google maps. Like everyone else first I type the location where I have to go. Then if I say directions it directly sends me to a page where I have to show my current location. I would either have to select my exact GPS location or chose some initial starting point. This has some implications in real life as well. Let's look at some lessons we learn from this activity.

Where you start matters in life.

Often in life when we want to reach some destination we overwhelmingly think about that place. But more importantly we forget where we are. As much as the destination the starting place matters. We do not identify that the route we have to take totally and mutually depend on where we are starting. And throughout the journey what is accessible for us is only the location where we are. The speed that we travel at this moment would determine the entire journey. It is important to constantly access our current location.

Planning matters but not actually what you do.

Maps

Imagine you see a blocked road ahead. Jammed with traffic, red color. You can plan this to avoid the traffic. Maybe you might take a different road. Maybe you might plan your resting time hoping the traffic would go away in due time when you arrive there. But if you start overwhelmingly panic and think too much about it you might make entire journey about this traffic. You might even forget to enjoy your lunch! And This is exactly what happens to us while we are in office. We are so much panicked about the next task that we forget we have eaten the lunch or not. Most likely you would have swallowed it whole. But it doesn't have to be that way. If you understand the next principle of google maps, which is,

Destination has no meaning while you are in the journey.

Destination has no meaning while you are on the journey. Imagine your Destination is a beach front hotel. In this hotel you are planning to spend 24 hours before you departure to another place. While you are travelling, it doesn't matter that beach is filled with magnificent sunset. It doesn't matter what you get for lunch. There is no point even thinking about it. It will just make your economy class lunch less tastier while you travel. But if you just chose to be mindful and savour the apple juice you are offered, the difficult journey might even feel enjoyable. You will realise that the happiness is subjective and your mind can generate happiness on its own! And what a wonderful way to look at life that when we can understand its the same wind we feel at home, feels different on the beach.

Moment

Now if I stopped here, and if you looked closely, and read again, all the three factors above are not three. Infact they are indeed one. What I have learned from google maps can be summarised as, in a journey what matters is only our current location. If we can fully appriciate and be present you may have better chance of living life rarther than dreaming. Yes, with all the flaws, all the troubles, all the disappointments. Still that would be the only thing that matters. Pain, depression, happiness, heartbroken, love and greed. All are part of the same life. Inseparable from the knower, as it all points to yourself in direction.

So next time when you search directions of a place let it remind you to focus on your current status of affairs instead.