4 ms·

I did the same 1.5 mile trail (Council Crest in Portland, OR w/ 750’ of elevation gain) 110 times in 2019 (part of a 10 mile round trip route from my apartment)

I did the same 1.5 mile trail (Council Crest in Portland, OR w/ 750’ of elevation gain) 110 times in 2019 (part of a 10 mile round trip route from my apartment). I learned every step of the trail and named the more notable trees. I could do the whole trail in my mind and feel like I was there. I did it in 100 degree summer weather, many times in pouring rain, and even ice and snow. I felt like it was a privilege to get to know something that deeply. But I’m also somebody who doesn’t ever plan to leave the US or even get on a plane again because there’s so much worth seeing right outside my front door!

etse 4y ago
Thanks for sharing that. I liked your note on doing the trail in your mind because it reminds me of when I stumble through a piano piece that I learned decades ago as a kid. It somehow brings me back in time, so that I feel like I could guess what was cooking for dinner or what was stressing me out at school/home.
- paulcole 4y ago
  I learned I could do it at the dentist office while getting a cavity filled! It’s been a helpful de-stressing tool.
  - jamiek88 4y ago
    You know you are half way to a memory palace already?! If you wanted to you could fairly easily use that memorized route to memorize anything else you wish to.
freetime2 4y ago
Yup there's a hill nearby that I've climbed about 100 times on my bike over the past couple years. I always cherish my time that I spend there - the scenery is constantly changing throughout the season, and I frequently run into acquaintances along the way. Every day might get a little monotonous, but a couple times a week is doable (and enjoyable) for sure!
- mantas 4y ago
  I pass a sightseeing spot on my usual run. It's on a hill, overseeing a lake bellow as well as forest surrounding the lake. I take the same picture whenever I got phone on me. Looking back at the pictures, there're no 2 identical pictures. Lush greenery, snow, ice on a lake, brownness of the fall.... Maybe a tree has fallen or a younger tree got big enough to cover older ones since the year before. There're tons and tons of details that are hard to notice if you ain't coming back for a hundredth time.

etse 4y ago

Thanks for sharing that. I liked your note on doing the trail in your mind because it reminds me of when I stumble through a piano piece that I learned decades ago as a kid. It somehow brings me back in time, so that I feel like I could guess what was cooking for dinner or what was stressing me out at school/home.

paulcole 4y ago
I learned I could do it at the dentist office while getting a cavity filled! It’s been a helpful de-stressing tool.
- jamiek88 4y ago
  You know you are half way to a memory palace already?! If you wanted to you could fairly easily use that memorized route to memorize anything else you wish to.

freetime2 4y ago

Yup there's a hill nearby that I've climbed about 100 times on my bike over the past couple years. I always cherish my time that I spend there - the scenery is constantly changing throughout the season, and I frequently run into acquaintances along the way. Every day might get a little monotonous, but a couple times a week is doable (and enjoyable) for sure!

mantas 4y ago
I pass a sightseeing spot on my usual run. It's on a hill, overseeing a lake bellow as well as forest surrounding the lake. I take the same picture whenever I got phone on me. Looking back at the pictures, there're no 2 identical pictures. Lush greenery, snow, ice on a lake, brownness of the fall.... Maybe a tree has fallen or a younger tree got big enough to cover older ones since the year before. There're tons and tons of details that are hard to notice if you ain't coming back for a hundredth time.