Student creates a virtual globe to pin 'living memories' of his heartbreak. Then 100,000 others followed
'A love letter I wasn't brave enough to send, so I left it on a map instead.'
Just like perfume can hold memories, places and streets you frequented can hold your memories too. Whether you are walking alone, enjoying the summer rain, or holding hands with someone you love, eating ice cream on a sunny day. The places where you made these memories will always stay with you. Gabe Szeto, an Economics student-turned-coder, created a website called AMOU (A Map of Us) to cope with his heartbreak.
AMOU is a virtual globe where Szeto pinned memories he did not want to forget. It is a space for all "the little moments that once meant everything" to him. AMOU is a perfect balance between "private enough to be real, but public enough to be seen," and soon enough, it caught the eye of thousands looking to deal with their own broken heart. On March 4, Szeto confirmed that 100,000 others had joined the journey with him.
What started as a solo healing journey for Szeto has now become a global movement. In an Instagram post from January 27, Szeto shared, "POV: you made a website for the things you wanted to say, and accidentally made a map for the world's memories." From the very beginning, his intentions were to create a space for himself where he could spill his emotions and memories. He was not ready to let go of his past because it felt like forgetting.
Szeto began by placing notes on different streets that he walked with his ex-girlfriend, and that was how AMOU started. He calls it, "A love letter I wasn't brave enough to send, so I left it on a map instead... It's a map of what we're too scared to post, but still need to say. A quiet reminder that we're not alone, and that being human still means something."
As more and more people started posting their messages and letters on AMOU, Szeto continued improving the website. In another Instagram post from January 27, he shared a video with the caption, "pov: coding at midnight because the world needs a place for all the moments that matter to us." According to the website, "AMOU is a map of moments. We call them 'mous', and each one is something someone chose to leave in a place. They're represented by dots on the map, colour-coded by who it’s written for."
A purple dot is a message written for the person themselves; a pink dot indicates that the note is written for someone else; a green dot indicates a note for a group; and an orange dot means the message is for anyone who comes upon it. If you want to post your own "mou," all you need to do is create an account and click on the map-pin button. The next step is to click on the map and follow the prompts. You can also explore AMOU to read other people's notes. The best part about it is that everything is anonymous, so you don't have to worry about being exposed while being your vulnerable self.
Sharing or writing down what you are feeling can be a cathartic process. Research conducted by Dr. James W. Pennebaker, a Psychology professor at the University of Texas, in 2011, showed that "expressive writing" can have a positive impact on people dealing with physical ailments as well as regulate their emotions. The finding also states, "when people open up privately about a traumatic event, they are more likely to talk with others about it — suggesting that writing leads indirectly to reaching out for social support that can aid healing."
Online communities can be a wonderful space to be in. It can give you a sense of belonging and a feeling of being understood. In a study done by Golz, Sprecher, and Richter on "Mental health-related communication in a virtual community," they used the inCLOUsiv platform to analyze people's communication. "Discussions in forums and live chats on inCLOUsiv were analysed using text mining," the paper says. They found that the inCLOUsiv community is "benevolent and supportive; and 72% of the identified sentiments were positive."
Gabe Szeto's comment section is filled with people who appreciate the community that he is building. @romauriee an AMOU user commented on Szeto's post, "My memory is pinned on the location where the video started. Thank you for creating this website, because it gave me a bit of the closure that I needed." @betull_ea_, who just found out about AMOU, commented, "This is really a good idea, and it feels so sincere. I'll go and write one too!"
You can follow Gabe Szeto (@gabe.sjx) for more updates on AMOU (A Map of Us)
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