visit a library

when was the last time you walked into a library? not the website. the actual building. with shelves. and that specific library smell — old paper, wood polish, and the quiet hum of people thinking.

if you can't remember, that's exactly why you need to go.

the algorithm problem

your entire information diet is curated by software designed to show you more of what you already like. google, youtube, spotify, amazon — they all feed you variations of your existing interests. you never encounter the truly unexpected because the algorithm can't profit from showing you something random.

a library is the opposite. it's organized by subject, not by your browsing history. walking through the stacks, you'll pass philosophy next to psychology next to true crime next to quantum physics. your eye will catch a title that has nothing to do with anything you've ever searched for. and that's the magic.

how to do this right

don't go with a plan. don't look up a specific book. walk in, pick a section you've never explored, and wander. pull out anything that catches your eye. read the first page. if it hooks you, sit down with it. if it doesn't, put it back and keep moving.

give yourself at least an hour. this is a practice in letting curiosity drive instead of algorithm. you're not optimizing for anything. you're exploring.

what you'll discover

maybe you'll find a biography of someone you've never heard of who lived a fascinating life. maybe you'll discover that you're actually interested in architecture or marine biology or the history of cartography. maybe you'll find a novel that rewires how you see the world.

or maybe you'll just spend an hour in a quiet place surrounded by knowledge, and that alone is worth more than another hour on your phone.

the free resource you're ignoring

libraries offer free books, audiobooks, movies, music, courses, and community events. your tax dollars already paid for all of it. you're literally leaving value on the table by not using them.

go today. bring nothing but curiosity. see where it takes you.

if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.