We’re in an era of human existence where we spend an awful lot of time looking things up.
- “Can I use baking soda instead of baking powder?” “Dunno, look it up!”
- “What ever happened to Brendan Fraser? “Dunno, look it up!”
- “Is is still my favorite cousin’s birthday in Hong Kong?” “Dunno, look it up!”
- “What’s the name of that Nic Cage movie where he wants to take John Travolta’s face off?” “He wants to take his face off?” “Yeah, Cage wants to take his face off.” “Dunno, look it up!”
We’re so used to having everything at our fingertips at all times that we never just agree to disagree anymore. In fact, to test how addicted we’d become to the constant ability to seek out any answer at any time, my sister and I once went an entire Maryland-to-Indiana road trip without allowing ourselves even once to approach Google for guidance. Instead, we kept a running list of questions with pen and paper and told ourselves we could search only once we’d arrived in the Hoosier State. Turns out, by the time we got there, we really didn’t much care anymore whether any of the voice actors in the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were still famous.
(You’re going to google that now, aren’t you?)
Ironically, during all that time we spend looking things up, we’re nearly always looking down. Seriously, picture a New York City street, or a subway car, or an elevator, or the gym: We’re always looking down at our phones, rather than up at the physical world around us. And sometimes for good reason – our phones are fun, and if you look up at Manhattan’s tall buildings, everyone thinks you’re a tourist and tries to sell you a double-decker bus ticket.
Still, it can’t be healthy to never – and I mean NEVER, in my case – look up at the outside world. That’s why my visit to Chicago last weekend was so great. Not only did I get to spend some quality time with my sister and eat a “pizza” that was thick as a quiche, but we treated ourselves to an architecture boat tour that demanded we spend a solid 90 minutes taking in the scenery above.
And it was glorious.
Now I can’t say whether an hour an a half away from my normal phone routine made me a healthier person or a better runner, but it sure felt nice to stretch my neck in the other direction for once. So here’s my charge to you this weekend: spend some time looking up at whatever’s above you — buildings, mountains, drive in movie screens, giraffes — and I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you find. I know I was.
Happy Friday, folks! Get out there and see the world!
Riled Up Runner 