Let’s take a break from the Wellness series this week. Today I want to take you for a Mothers Day drive and share an enjoyable encounter I had last summer. C’mon, hop in, let’s drive:

I’ve noticed that sometimes when I’m on a long drive that my mind wanders off while my body continues driving. It’s amazing how the mind can be perfectly aware and in tune with the physical environment and also be working in the background in an entirely different place. I can go for miles (driving safely mind you) but not remember the scenery going past. I think that is because my focus is on the road and driving conditions only, and the portion of my brain that normally passively notices the scenery was actually galloping off in another direction. Might this be an example of the multitasking that we have all become so adept at? 

With most things I find that multitasking is tiring, at least when it’s physical tasks that I’m trying to do simultaneously. But who among us can control where our mind goes traipsing off to? Sometimes it’s anxiety related, like when you have pressing issues or situations that you’re worried about. Other times it’s much more pleasurable, such as daydreaming or looking forward to an upcoming event. 

It all came together one day when driving home from camp, on the very last leg of the journey on the Indian Point Road, I came up behind a man on a motorcycle. He seemed to be a middle aged or older man, in no hurry.  At first I thought he was lost, perhaps looking for a certain driveway or road. He was going slowly and looking around.  As I hung back and trailed along behind him I came to realize that he was just enjoying the ride and looking around in wonder at the scenery he was passing. I watched him for quite a few miles and his pure delight at all he passed was infectious. Observing him as he so clearly took pleasure from his slow comfortable ride made me forget that I had been driving for several hours and I ached all over.

I was reminded that I should take the time to see my everyday environment through fresh eyes. I didn’t care that we were going so slowly. It was well worth it. Thank you Mr. Motorcycle Man for unknowingly sharing your peaceful, beautiful ride with me.

Thinking about how this one person affected my mood, my perspective, and my awareness made me wonder if I have ever affected someone else in a similar way. Has anyone ever been inspired by me? I would feel blessed to have impacted even one life in such a way. Just one moment in time. Have you had a moment when you observed a stranger and had a change of perspective? Would you change anything about your everyday behavior if you knew your actions could have a positive impact? We all have an effect on each other every single day, in every moment. But we forget. In the busyness of our days and the stresses of our world we forget that we have this incredible power. Let’s use it.

Let’s spread it around and see what changes we can make. 👩🏻‍💻