how to not give a fuckexplore your city
you probably know more about vacation destinations you've visited once than the city you've lived in for years. that's not just ironic -- it's a symptom of being on autopilot.
the familiarity trap
when everything around you becomes routine, you stop seeing it. the same commute, the same restaurants, the same three blocks you actually walk. your world shrinks to a tiny fraction of what's available to you, and you don't even notice.
meanwhile, tourists are out there losing their minds over the cool neighborhood you drive through every day without a second glance.
become a tourist at home
pull up google maps, yelp, or any city guide for your area. look at what's top-rated and ask yourself honestly: how many of these places have you actually been to?
try this:
- visit a neighborhood you've never walked through
- eat at a restaurant where you can't read half the menu
- find a local museum, gallery, or landmark you've been "meaning to check out" for years
- search for city scavenger hunts or walking tours -- yes, in your own city
the point isn't sightseeing. the point is breaking the pattern. when you disrupt your routine geography, you disrupt your routine thinking.
why this matters
novelty is fuel for the brain. new environments create new neural pathways, spark curiosity, and fight the creeping numbness of doing the same things every day. you don't need to fly somewhere exotic to get that effect. you just need to turn left where you usually turn right.
some of the most interesting people you'll meet and experiences you'll have are within a 20-minute drive of where you're sitting right now.
this week
pick one place in your city you've never been. go there. no planning, no overthinking. just show up and see what happens. the worst case is you waste an hour. the best case is you remember what it feels like to be curious.
if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.