A Long Drive

I have set off on a long drive from Cairns to Brisbane and back, two to two and a half thousand kilometres.  It is my first ever long drive alone and I am finding it a real adventure, fun and exciting.  Hours and hours alone in the car, just me for company and with a need to stay alert at all times.  I have found the following three things to be fantastic for all kinds of reasons.  First, I continue to work on my personal development, second I am remaining awake and alert and third it is fun.

1. Practice being present, in the here and now.  This is really easy to do while driving because you need to be!  So it is a matter of gently drawing yourself back each time that you drift off into the past or future.  You can also concentrate attention onto the things that surround you, looking for picturesque scenes, at lovely gum trees and the wildlife around you.  Easy, and you stay present while doing it as well as scanning the environment for your own safety.
2. Show appreciation and gratitude, especially for other drivers.  I find that by concentrating on those drivers who are friendly, generous and accommodating, I am finding more of them on the road.  It also triggers in me, the need to do the same in return, particularly for the trucks.  Overall it makes the driving experience a whole lot more pleasant, it is sweet to get the waves from other drivers and I find myself in gratitude really easily.  I can also look around and be grateful for the road where it is good, the countryside, how my car performs and so on.  Easy.
3. Listen to music, especially baroque which is said to be the best for assisting to tap your intuition and ideas.  Music can also be uplifting which is good for energy, the mood and soul.  It works for me and makes the journey pleasant and go by faster.  I intersperse the music with personal development CDs and silence (or as silent as you can get while driving).  These are all part of my personal development program and on this long trip, it is almost an immersion.  Fabulous and most enjoyable.

So next time you are on a long drive, turn it to your advantage and arrive at your destination with energy, in a great mood and having made in roads into your own personal development.  You can do it any time, any place.