This Cardboard Robot Embodies an Important Lesson for Nomadic Travelers
This is Sam.
Image: http://www.tweenbots.com/
Sam is a Tweenbot - a permanent part of the MoMA exhibit in New York.
We can learn something about the art of world travel from Sam. To do so, let's first watch this 3 minute video.
Video: www.youtube.com
1) First, declare your destination!
Sam the tweenbot just picked a destination - okay, his programmer picked a destination - but let's say that Sam was the one who picked it. He didn't care if it was the BEST spot in Washington square, it was just a spot. The point was to see what would happen to him along the way, and how or if he would get there. But more importantly, what interesting and unexpected things would occur along the way. It could have been any destination, and these things would have happened.
2) Next, make your destination clear! And keep it fixed! If Sam changed his destination from southeast corner to the southwest corner to the central square based on what seemed to be happening to him in the moment, he would get nowhere, but just go around in circles. While this is also a kind of travel, doesn't it seem more satisfying to have a clear beginning and end to a journey? Wouldn't it make for a better story to have this kind of structure to the travel? Wouldn't Sam have more internal consistency? Wouldn't he have the same request to present to everyone who met him? Wouldn't he be better remembered by those who did help him to his one goal?
3) Accept the help you get!It may not be the help you were expecting, but it is help that you need because you aren't going to reach your goal by yourself. The point of Sam's journey is to see who he can get involved along the way. He is not equipped to reach his goal himself. In fact, if he had the power and means to get to his destination by himself, then that would be a different kind of story. It would be more like a race story than a travel story. What kind of story are you looking to live? If you live the travel story, you might end up going in the opposite direction of your destination once in awhile because of some help you received. But that's ok, because as long as your goal is simple, and clearly stated, someone will point you in the right direction, and then someone else, and someone else.
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So... Be simple, direct, and open about your goals. Don't hide your aspirations away where people have to pry to see them. You are less likely to get help that way! And less likely to have adventures. Let it be put in a way that evokes curiosity from others. Just like Sam, wear your destination on a big flag over your head where anyone passing by can see it! Put it in a way that makes it easier for people to help you on your way! Ask the Sam way. "Please help me to go (here)."
People love to help if it is easy and fun, and a little bit mysterious and whimsical, and adds something wondrous to their day. People love to put in their little bit to help accomplish something. They don't have to understand your goal. In fact, YOU don't even have to understand your goal. You just need to have one.
Image: http://www.tweenbots.com/
To learn more about Sam, go to his page.