The hippocampus is the center in our brain where we keep our maps.  Cognitive maps. These maps determine a person’s directional orientation as well as the ability to process short-term memory events and spatial relationships.  Each person, regardless of gender, has two hippocampi one on each side of the brain to form the perfect Feng Shui arrangement of gray matter.

We might question this concept when it seems no matter how hard some people try, they can’t find their way out of a paper bag.

What if one’s mental furniture is not quite as Zen as nature intended and suffer amnesia or memory loss?  If an individual were suffering from an inability to achieve forward progress, would a GPS system help?  What would the world look like if we could hook up a device to the memory and artificially reclaim the dead space in the hippocampus?  Would we then miraculously acquire directional stability, similar to when we utilize “Google maps” or “Mapquest” to help us find our destination? This real brain computer could be programmed by a chip in the brain or possibly inserted into the ear as one would a hearing aid.

Could we program a more purposeful life into our systems?  Would this internal GPS help us find or discern a path upon which to proceed and move forward in discovering where our personal goals lead us? If one is “lost” and having trouble finding their way, could a GPS aid in specific life directions? Mapping a purposeful life would be that easy.  There are times when I tell myself I have no clue what I want to be or do.  There is so much to choose and so much I do moderately well. 

What would my destination be if I could choose one and only one of the many things I enjoy?  I already possess a degree that tells me I am a graphic artist.  I have hundreds of thousands of words that prove I am a writer.  My garage is filled with samples of my artistic ability and a certificate from the art institute as evidence of a well-utilized natural gift with creative endeavors.  What would my life be if a higher power, someone other than my parents made that decision for me when I was three years old?