You may know that I just drove across country. In fact, over 12 days I covered 4,044.5 miles (I obviously took the scenic route) and took 1,026 pictures as I traveled from Virginia to California. So if you’ve ever done the cross-country jaunt or just thought about it, here are some reasons why a road trip is good for your soul:
You get out of your comfort zone – By simply getting on the open road, you get out of your day-to-day surroundings and get to experience the “bigger” world that’s out there. I’ve heard that there are two types of travelers. The first is the traveler who goes to a different place and complains because nothing is like “home.” The second type is the traveler who goes with an open mind to experience and soak up the differences and enjoy the trip.
You feel alive – On the road, each day is an adventure to be cherished and soaked in. You never know what is around the corner or over the next pass. Your senses are heightened as you take it all in and see things with fresh eyes. I took the advice of many who had done this before me and did things that got me in touch with the adventure of it all. I drove with my windows down, hair blowing in the wind…radio blaring and singing to my favorite songs. I stopped at honky-tonk truck stops and roadside inns where people say, “What can I get for you hon?” (That’s short for “honey” in the south.) I sampled local cuisine and honored the traditions of the local people and the land. Whether it was sitting on a rock ledge of the Grand Canyon at sunset or crawling through an ancient pueblo village cut into Mesa Verde, I couldn’t help but have my blood pumping from the awe of it all.
You live in the present – At least you should. I’ve done plenty of road trips where the goal was to go from Point A to Point B in the most expedient way possible. In those cases, it’s all about the destination. I would highly recommend a road trip with no set agenda. In other words, you get there when you get there. This approach changes everything. Friends would call and say, “Aren’t you tired of driving all day?” And the answer was a surprising “no.” Since I didn’t have a set agenda, I was always curious as to what was ahead versus feeling like, “I’ve still got 300 more miles to drive…sigh.” In other words, the drudgery of driving to get somewhere changed to the joy of finding new and exciting places. In fact, I stopped and took pictures every 100 miles (plus or minus 10 miles) just so I would stay in the moment and not zone out. I wanted to be present enough to appreciate the flowers on the side of the road or the horses romping toward the sunset, not taking anything for granted.
You have time to reflect – For me, this was mostly a solo venture, although I had my favorite travel companion join me for the last 734.9 miles. That means, I had almost 3,310 miles of “me time.” Besides a few calls a day, I minimized my contact with folks back home so I could take it all in. And while taking it all in, I had those moments of clarity, that sometimes get buried in the day-to-day activities. I jotted them down in my travel diary as I went…a few of my insights included:
– Let go of who you have become to be who you are.
– Be in touch with the spirit of the land. There is great wisdom in nature that renews your soul.
– Of all the paths you take in life, make sure some of them are dirt.
You are unique, yet the same – We all are special and different. We carry with us our choices from the past as well as our hopes for the future. We have a unique path no doubt. At the same time, whether we are looking at the changing landscape of our great nation or the changing faces on our journey, there is more that unites us than divides us. Appreciate the differences and embrace the things that bring us together with others and know that despite religious, cultural, demographic, political or other differences; we are sharing this wonderful planet together. I had the insightful perspective to see the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis (adjoined to the Lorraine Hotel where Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot and killed) followed by a tour of the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock on the same day. In the welcome video for the Library, Bill Clinton shared how he was forever shaped as a student by the ideals of equality to which King dedicated his life. I was inspired by both; realizing while we have made much progress, we still have much more work to do to in order to be “One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.” We make progress only when we embrace our differences and not let them divide us.
You get more when you get off the beaten path – Every time I stopped or went off the main road, I would discover something new and exciting. Whether it was eating ribs and fried catfish on the legendary Beale Street in Memphis or standing at the base of Bridalveil Fall at Yosemite. The side streets and back roads, the chance encounters and interesting conversations…they all enrich our day-to-day experiences. I think sometimes we are so busy getting to where we’re going that we don’t want to take the extra time to make a connection or go the scenic route, not realizing how we are enriched by taking a different path.
Obviously a road trip is a great way to explore the world and yourself, but it doesn’t have to be a cross-country adventure. You could take a long walk along the river, through a park or around your town or city. And just be mindful and present of the experience.
The beginning of the trip in Richmond, VA…and I’m off!
