Writers' Corner: Navigation
There’s something about me that few people know. I have a handy little talent, a true gift really. This gift has saved me more times than I can even guess at.
‘”What ever could it be?” you ask. I’ll tell you: I rarely get lost. I may get turned around on an unfamiliar street for a minute or two, but I realign myself and head for my destination.
I’m not 100 percent sure how it works, or even how to describe it. It’s as if I have a built-in compass, spinning away as I travel around. The sensation is centered inside my chest. Sometimes it actually feels like there is a physical pull that is only active when I think about where I would like to go.
I like maps and atlases. I consult both when needed. But what do you do when you don’t have a map? What if you find yourself in a foreign land without a map and with limited language skills? If you were me, you’d pray and use your gift.
This scenario played out for me earlier this summer. I had a chance to travel to France in July. I was so excited. I made plans and wrote notes for every step of the way, but I had never been there.
I had no working knowledge of the places I was headed for. I did have my smartphone and the internet-based applications to assist me, if needed. What could go wrong? Silly.
The moment my plane was over French territory my phone lost all connectivity. No Internet. No calls. This meant I had no access to online navigation tools. I landed in Paris basically blind. I picked up a city map from a tourist help desk and aimed for the train station.
My inner compass spun furiously, pointing my steps toward my goal. I needed to make my way from the airport, through two different train lines, to reach a town two and a half hours away by 4:30 p.m.
I stood still on the Parisian sidewalk, closed my eyes and thought of the town. I’d never seen it before, but I needed to get there. A tugging sensation at my mid-section began and I followed the guide. I made each connection without fail. I managed to arrive a bit early and the rest of the trip was a dream.
My son likes to play a game with me, testing my gift. He will call out a place I’ve never been to and ask me to point to it. The spinning sensation starts inside me almost at once as my compass realigns with its new goal. It can be dizzying and has made me ill in the past.
Once I feel the direction of his chosen location, I merely point. We use online world maps to see if my sense of direction is correct. It usually is. This even works with the moon and planets. I won’t say that I understand how or why I have this talent, only that I am extremely grateful for it. What a fun way to navigate!
Tip: Take a trip. Travel the world or just around your neck of the woods. Wherever you go, have an adventure. Write about it!
Bio: Christine Cox lives and works in SW Michigan. She can be contacted at christine.cox37@yahoo.com.
— The Sturgis Writers’ Mill exists to create a community of writers who constructively encourage, support, and challenge each other as they discover their unique voices. Any opinion expressed is solely that of the author.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Writers' Corner: Navigation
