Navigating Korean roundabouts taught me more about life than any meditation retreat. As newcomers from North America and Sweden, Håkan and I watched in bewilderment as local drivers created their own symphony of movement – stopping mid-circle to contemplate something (on life?!), darting in without yielding, and occasionally treating the circular junction like a Formula 1 track. Our near-collision with a speeding car that ignored the yield sign left us not just rattled, but deeply puzzled. 

Then it dawned on me: we weren’t just dealing with different driving habits, but with entirely different mental maps. 

Each of us carries a unique reality map, crafted by our genes, culture, and life experiences. Like fingerprints of the soul, no two are identical. The Korean drivers weren’t “wrong” – they were simply following their own well-worn paths, just as we were following ours. 

This revelation extends far beyond traffic circles. Think about the friend whose life choices baffle you, or the family member whose decisions seem incomprehensible. Their actions may make perfect sense within their map, drawn by experiences we can barely imagine. What appears as an easy path on our map might be an insurmountable mountain on theirs. 

While we can’t choose our initial map, we can certainly expand it. Each encounter with a different perspective – whether at a puzzling roundabout or in a heart-to-heart conversation – offers a chance to add new territories to our understanding. Our initial frustration can transform into curiosity, judgment into acceptance. 

The real magic happens when we learn to occasionally set our maps aside entirely. In these moments, free from the weight of past experiences and future expectations, we discover the pure joy of being present – even in a chaotic Korean roundabout. 

Our perspective isn’t just a lens through which we view life – it’s a gift we can offer the world. Let’s share it generously, but remain open to the wonders of seeing through others’ eyes. After all, life’s greatest adventures often begin when we dare to follow someone else’s map.