You cover a lot more ground by slowing down…
Sometime during my first year or two of college, I took a summer vacation with my then-boyfriend. My father had offered to fund a road trip and I took him up on it–absolutely. But for some reason, a bit of that time is a blur. From South Florida, we drove to northern Michigan to meet up with my extended family, but when we arrived, a stomach bug had gotten the best of everyone, and so we took off right away. We went to Niagara Falls and NYC and Washington D.C. on the way back down to Florida. But I don’t remember all of the specifics. I do remember wanting to get to all of these places as quickly as we could so we could explore. I remember that I had already been to all of these places before, (with my family), but my boyfriend had never been; so, I was more focused on showing him the sights rather than taking them in on my own, by myself, for the very first time. It was certainly a fun trip; And I am still so grateful that I was given an opportunity to go on a trip like that when so many other people can’t. But I still wish I had done it differently. I wish I had just held still for a moment–well, for many moments–and just taken everything in. Then again, the rush to grow up and play adult when you’re 19 or 20 is often the only “big picture” you’re able to see. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.
Two years ago I moved to Los Angeles and drove myself and all of my belongings across the country from Florida to California. Loaded to the max, it took me four days to get there. I had been focused on going back to school and tying up any loose ends so that I could get to L.A. as soon as possible. It was the single thing on my mind: that big Hollywood sign. And when I took my last final, I slept one more night in Tallahassee, skipped graduation, and took the straightest shot I could to L.A. –I drove through amazing landscapes and familiar sites–some things I only recognized once I was back, but knew I had visited as a child on a family trip. The Grand Canyon eventually came–maybe 40 miles off route at most– but I didn’t take the exit. What’s 40 miles when I had travelled 3000? The Petrified Forest National Park: trees that have turned to stone that fascinated me as a pre-teen; I looked for them to my left, but couldn’t spot them. The forest was maybe 20 minutes south of my highway. But I didn’t take the exit. What’s 20 minutes when I had travelled 72 hours? –Six in the morning on day four, waking up for a continental breakfast feast with hikers and bikers and explorers, nature wanderers, all checking out Flagstaff, AZ. And I smiled at them. Envied them even. But I didn’t stay an extra night. What was one more night!?
The truth was and is that one more night, and twenty more minutes, and 40 more miles, are nothing. It’s no time at all. It’s little dent in your wallet. It’s no deadlines missed. It’s no time wasted. It is only experiences missed.
When I went to England last September with no car or specific agenda, I finally got the thing I was missing on other trips; And I hadn’t even planned for it. Fancy that! I sat in Trafalgar Square alone for hours just people watching. I took trains and soaked up the world outside because I didn’t have to drive. I strolled walking paths through the quiet countryside that wove for miles through lush greenery all the way back to town. And I still got to see all of the great destinations I wanted to and was expected to see. Each night, I would decide which landmark I wanted to see the following day, but that was it. The rest I figured out as I went along. And it gave me the much-needed opportunity to soak up ‘all the other stuff.’ And it is something I plan to not plan for for all of my future trips. And really, for all of my future days.
So, just pull over. When you’re on a road trip or a weekend getaway, exploring a new town, bicycling cross country, or just trying to get home from work. Whatever it is. If you feel the urge, or even if you don’t… Just pull over. Pull yourself over. For all the “Welcome to [insert a state’s name here]” signs I wish I had snapped pictures by, for all the moments I was too busy planning for efficiency’s-sake, for all of the scenic routes and leisurely strolls I missed taking highways… just pull over. You cover a lot more ground by slowing down.
