The Map is Not the Place

We carry within our hearts and minds lessons from the earliest moment we can
remember.

Some of what we learned is put to practical use in things we do every day.

Things such as standing up, walking, talking, getting along, using the right words in a
conversation, camaraderie, and kindness.

Other stuff we learned is shelved in our memory bank, ready to be pulled out when we
need it to understand our world.

We use this knowledge when calculating changes in the grocery store, or when
comprehending the news, and in protecting ourselves from different kinds of
compromising situations.

There is another category of learning we carry, which might not be practical, but is
nonetheless important in shaping our present and our future selves.

This is knowledge of our life map.

When we speak of a life map, we refer to the collection of moments that defined us. Our
life map is a constellation of ideas, values, experiences, and moments that passed
through our senses from our moment of birth.

Why is it important to grasp a sense of our life map?

Simply, it is because our life map flavors and guides our understanding of the here and
now.

We tend to view ourselves and situations based on what we intimately understand.

Because of this, our life map can guide us in leading our days.

We use our life map to navigate through our own existence because we want to apply
best practices or to simply avoid problems.

But as much as our life map can help us make better choices or avoid difficult
situations, the map is not the place.

I can tell you what this means.

When I was young, I went to this wonderful place in the countryside.

It was my grandparents’ home.

We traveled by car for eight hours.

At the first phase of the journey, all I can see is the city.

Then, after two hours I can finally see the greenery.

We drove past lush fields of rice and corn and saw egrets grazing on the fertile plains.

We saw man-made lakes far as the eye can see.

We saw water buffalos lazily basking in the river below the bridge we drew past by.

When we reached our destination, I felt awe as my eyes were filled with wonder over
the sight of the mountains rising around me.

Can you imagine it?

Can you feel the air, the blessed stillness of being close to nature?

Can you imagine the mountains, the lake, the egret, and the water buffalo?

Sure you can and it is because you already have in your mind a concept of what fresh
air feels like in the lungs.

You have your own experience of it.

You have a concept of how it feels to be in the countryside.

You have seen mountains before and you know what an egret and a water buffalo looks
like.

However, no matter what you do, you will never know the true picture of the place I’ve
been to because what you saw in your mind is just a mental representation of my story
as I am sharing it with you.

In other words, the MAP IS NOT THE PLACE.

The map is not the picture we form in our minds because we form that picture out of
what we already know.

THE MAP IS NOT THE PLACE THE MAP REPRESENTS.

What does this tell us?

It means that we may know things from theory, however, THEORY IS NOT THE
EXPERIENCE.

Are we doomed by our limitations then?

Of course not.

And the reason why I am sharing this today is to bring to you a message full of hope.

We may have different life maps, different life experiences, divergent ways of
understanding things but it's okay.

By sharing our stories with others, by learning from other people’s stories, we can
calibrate our own life map and others can also calibrate theirs so that we can all have a
better understanding of one another in the global community.

Our goal should be to elevate the human condition of all nations by refining our
understanding of each others’ circumstances.

We have a calling to draw inspiration from other people’s stories to build a better world
every day.

To end division.
To end suffering.

To end poverty.

To end hunger.

To end wars.

By awakening to other people’s experiences, we would be able to connect regardless of

age, gender, and cultural affiliations.

Let us seek understanding beyond our personal limitations.

Let us be inspired by humanity's collective stories so we can end misunderstanding,

dispel uncertainty, move forward to the future, and thrive as a global community.