How to be an explorer of the world

Wally found these inspiring instructions written on a piece of paper while exploring Winnipeg. He made a bunch of photocopies and gave one to me. I thought they were pretty wonderful so I’ve inscribed them for all to grok.

  1. Always be looking. (Notice the ground beneath your feet.)
  2. Consider everything alive and animate.
  3. Everything is interesting. Look closer.
  4. Alter your course often.
  5. Observe for long durations (and short ones.)
  6. Notice the stories going on around you.
  7. Notice patterns. Make connections.
  8. Document your findings (field notes) in a variety of ways.
  9. Incorporate indeterminancy.
  10. Observe movement.
  11. Create a personal dialogue with your environment. Talk to it.
  12. Trace things back to their origins.
  13. Use all of the senses in your investigations.

There’s some really good advice in there for everyone.