On The Road

As technology advances, our lives get a little bit more efficient and a little bit easier. As great as that may be there is something to be said about stripping things down and pushing through something that is not so easy in order to gain a sense of accomplishment.

When it comes to transportation we have so many options to efficiently travel long distances but to me, taking a road trip is exactly the practice that can bring you so many rewards. Anyone can wait in an airport terminal, ride along in a train or take some type of boat or ferry somewhere. Taking the wheel and braving multiple hours of waging a war of attrition upon hundreds of miles brings can be appreciated for different reasons.

Within just the physical aspect of it, you are sitting in the same position as dotted lines tick by below you as you collect mile markers in your back pocket; it's hypnotizing to say the least. When it is you versus the road, you gain a perspective on much of your life. You realize the comfort bubble of where you live is a small one but plays in integral role in the grand scheme of life around you. Some can gain the understanding that perhaps the smaller problems we have do not warrant as much worry as we give them.

On a mental note, the amount of time you have for your mind to ponder is incredible. If you want to mull over a solution to a problem or appreciate the thousands of things you overlook on a daily basis, you suddenly have plenty of time to do that.

Also, road trips are escapism at its greatest. If you are stressed out by some life decisions, your relationships, your career, certain friends or family then hitting the road might be the remedy for what ails you. Getting out and getting away for a brief stint could be the "reset" that you need.

For me, these are all great thoughts and valid points. Ultimately I take something much more simplistic from a lengthy road trip; a reminder. There are times in life where no matter how hard you stomp on the gas pedal and no matter how much of your effort could equate to horsepower, you have to accept that your wheels are just going to spin. The road trip that I took recently to South Carolina reminded me that with just a small amount of focus and will power that I can make progress.

I was reminded that sometimes people, events and circumstances can serve as unnecessary rest stops in your life. I learned that if sometimes no matter how bad you want to stop and yield your time and effort towards something, that you will be paying the larger price of less time elsewhere. You will delay your arrival time to the goal you are driving towards.  I understand that my time is limited and it would serve me best to apply myself to where I am appreciated, what exactly makes me happy and- most importantly- what I am passionate about.

These points are simple to understand but sometimes difficult to implement, believe me, I can testify to that. We are imperfect beings and will be inefficient sometimes on that metaphorical highway of life. If you are spending time somewhere or waiting on something then make sure that it is worth the effort you are making. If you deem that it is, be convicted to it and allow it to fill you up. If it is not, put that baby back in drive and get back out there; you will get there eventually.