CREATIVITY

Make a map from memory

A personal map records attention as well as distance.

Draw before checking

After a familiar walk, sketch the route without looking at a navigation app. Mark the points you remember clearly and leave uncertain stretches loose. The result will probably distort distance. That distortion is useful: it shows which places held your attention.

Add more than streets

Include sounds, changes in slope, places to rest and where the wind became noticeable. Use a few symbols consistently. A square for shelter and a circle for a good stopping place may be enough. Keep private homes and sensitive personal details out of maps that you share.

Compare gently

Check the route against a current map afterwards. Correct practical errors while keeping the original sketch. Two versions together tell a richer story: one about geography, the other about memory. Repeat the exercise after a month to see what has changed.