It has happened to everyone. You are out and about and suddenly your phone dies. Or maybe you have 2 percent of your data left and a week until it is renewed. Either way, you are stuck with no Internet, no connection, and, most importantly, no map. However, what sounds like a frightening experience may be more rewarding than you think. In fact, there are many benefits of being lost in a great city such as NYC.
1. You put down your phone and look around.
Without having a phone to distract you, you have the ability of taking in all of your surroundings. Suddenly, you discover a coffee shop nestled in between two buildings that you had never seen before. Eyes that are not glued to a screen have freedom to roam. What you see may surprise you.
2. You end up in places you never expected.
One of the greatest aspects of NYC is the inter-connectivity of all of the boroughs. One second you are exiting Grand Central Station and the next you are in Rockefeller Center; then, you end up in Times Square only moments after. After running far away from Times Square, as any sane non-tourist should, you are straight down Avenue of the Americas looking at Central Park. Allowing yourself to wander without a strict direction reveals new pathways and places you had not experienced before.
3. You experience everything in a different fashion.
You have probably been into Manhattan multiple times and have seen all of the sites. But getting lost in the city and simply spending time with the amazing world around you can truly change your perceptions. The streets you have walked on numerous times look different as you journey along them without distractions.
4. You learn something along the way.
What you learn depends on your journey. Maybe you find a new street you have never been on or a cute new boutique. Maybe you gain more confidence in walking across the street before the light changes like a true New Yorker. Perhaps someone asks you for directions and you realize that you already know more of the city than you thought. Whatever it is, your newfound knowledge allows you to embrace your city more than before.
5. You appreciate the journey.
Today, we are always focused on the end result. We are concerned with where we are and where we’re going. The focus is only on the destination. Roaming the city without an end goal in mind truly allows you to appreciate the journey. You are not concerned only about point A and point B, but rather all of the points in between.
Although relinquishing all of the control we have with our phones is hard, it is important to spend time in the world without being constantly plugged in. So put your phone down, go out into the city, and get lost. Just make sure you know how to get home.
