Why We Love Maps

  Everyone seems to love maps, particularly when they're lost! OK, "love"may be overstating it, but whether it be a standard atlas or road map, or the layout of a mall or an amusement park, or a walking map of any given city, the presentation of a map always seems to interest people in a myriad of ways.  They first try to find that proverbial "You Are Here" arrow.  However, if such simplicity is not present, they generally & instinctively go into navigation mode in order to find a familiar landmark or structure to determine where they stand at that given moment.  They then think of where they've been or where they want to go, tracing in seconds with their mind's eye what may take of has taken hours for them to get to in real time and distance. They may be amazed that there's a large lake tucked in those woods they never knew about, or that the mountain they're traversing isn't really as high as it seems in relation to others in the area.  They may make a decision to take a winding rural route to their next destination instead of the same old boring, straight, predictable highway they usually venture forth on.  And who knows what new potential discoveries await along the new route! Their curiosities are piqued.  One may realize that the space they fill is so small compared to the surrounding world that they are inspired, literally and figuratively, to venture forth to new distances and heights.  That's part of the rewards we experience through Corporate GPS navigation games & team building, treasure hunts and map making.