I've been busy this week. From Tuesday morning, 5:00 AM to Thursday night, 10:30 PM I put on 1500+ miles in my 1990 Toyota Pick-up. I had meetings in Denver on the first two days and had to be to Blanding, Utah, Wednesday night. That gave me plenty of windshield time.

About a decade ago I found out that I am a severely right-brained individual. I realized just how much while taking an art class at the University of Utah. A major point of the class was to shift us into our right brains as we learned to draw. Our instruction book provided a list of characteristics of being right-brained.

The first time I scanned this list it became obvious. I am right-brained to the max. There was one trait that jumped off the page. Freeway driving is a right-brained activity. I've always loved freeway driving. Bing!

I love to go on road trips. I find the time behind the wheel to be soothing. It affords me an opportunity to think. I would much rather be driving than flying. At least within reasonable distances. In fact, I'm a much better thinker when I'm out of my office, moving down the highway. I don't even mind going the speed limit, or at least a reasonable approximation. Things become clear as I roll down the highway.

I don't completely understand the phenomenon. But it does make some sense. There is a great deal of sensory input as a highway unfolds. No matter how many times I travel a stretch of road, something new is waiting just around the next turn.

I'd much rather be driving than sitting in a sterile office. I'd rather be doing almost anything than sitting in a sterile office. I'm expected to be in my office, so I try to make it an interesting place. But nothing can compare to the attraction of the great outdoors. If I can't be driving, I'd rather be riding my bike. If that's not possible, then walking will do. And if I can't be walking, then sitting outside is still preferable to any indoor activity.

Perhaps someday I will conduct all of my meetings outside. It wouldn't matter if we could be driving somewhere, or walking. Biking would make for some really cool meetings. Or just sitting outside, maybe at a restaurant having a bite to eat, would provide an exceptional setting for a meeting.

But for pure thinking, enjoyment and mental stimulation, give me a road trip. All I need is a bag of cherry nibs, something cold and sweet to drink, some good tunes and a few hundred miles of open, smooth highway. That's the life...........
9:52:47 PM    comment []