I have a tendency to drive slowly when I’m on vacation. I’m not really sure why that is. I guess it could be partly genetic; my father drove slowly, even when he was in a hurry. It could also be part wishful thinking. If it takes longer to do things on vacation, maybe my vacation will last longer. But, there’s more to it than that. I like driving slowly. When I drive slowly I feel better, fuller, richer. “It’s kind of like ‘the meek shall inherit the earth,” a friend said to me the other day.
“How so?” I ask.
“People who are content with who and where they are,” he begins.
“People who drive slowly?” I interrupt.
“Yes,” he said, “people who drive slowly- discover that they are the proud owners of the real treasures on earth – peace, joy, happiness.”
“The good stuff,” I say.
“Yeah,” he says. “The good stuff.”
And I realize he’s right.
When I drive slowly, I feel better, fuller, richer, because I am. I’m not racing to get a jump on anyone or running from store to store trying to buy happiness. I’m not trying to be someone I am not, or to do something I cannot. Driving slowly, I am who I am. No more. No less. And for those few precious moments I inherit the earth, one small stretch of roadway at a time.
photo from photoshoptalent.com
