All my life have had poor sense of direction when driving, getting lost in buildings, and retracing my steps. very frustrating. any suggestions?

Buy a GPS: Some people have a hard time with directions and can get lost easily. Consider buying a gps device or a smart phone which generally comes with gps. New cars also come with navigation system, either optional or standard.

It is DTD.: There is a newly discovered condition called developmental topographical disorder which seems to be your problem. With gps, this seems to be less disabling. Paying attention to landmarks helps and asking questions.