It was a beautiful sunny 53 degree day out. There were barely any clouds in the sky and my windows were down in the back. My cruise control was set at 70mph and I drove in the silence listening to the wind blow and letting my mind space out about absolutely nothing at all. It was the perfect day for a long drive.
The drive to my Dad's has to be one of my favorite trips to take. Why? The Lake Michigan Circle Tour offers some of the most incredible views. The entire circle tour takes me from Wisconsin, up through the U.P., over the Mackinac Bridge, and to my Dad's. The shores of Lake Michigan are within sight for a majority of the drive.
That particular route also has an interesting drive aside from being right next to Lake Michigan. Once you cross over from Wisconsin to Michigan signs advertising pasties and smoked fish begin to pop up in several places. There are multiple abandoned businesses, cottages, and motels stretched across the 6 and a half hour road trip. Even the rest stops are well maintained and have pretty views of the lake shore.
It was so easy to roll the windows down, empty my mind of all my stresses, and enjoy the drive. I couldn't help but smile every time I looked in the rear-view mirror because each time I looked, both of my dogs seemed to be enjoying the drive just as much as I was.
I think that the drive makes me so happy because it's such a perfect time to de-stress and focus on the basics. Sometimes I blast my music and jam out. Sometimes I drive in complete silence. Sometimes every window is open and I focus on enjoying the weather as my hair dances around like crazy from the wind.
A longer drive always seems to calm me. Most people may feel intimidated by driving for a length of time or sitting in a car for too long might not appeal to most, but I look forward to them. Maybe it's the fact that I'm driving far away from my stress at home or work. Maybe it's the idea of going somewhere new and exploring. All I know is that driving is medicine for my mind.
I believe that it's SO important to take time to clear our heads every once in a while. Bottling things up in our heads will only lead us to a day where we feel like we're going to explode and end up dumping all our feelings out. It had been a while since I took time to clear my head and that peaceful drive was exactly what I needed, even when I didn't think I did.
The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This is your reminder to take care of your mental health. Take some deep breaths, step away to calm yourself if you become anxious or irritated, or take a long drive. Taking a few minutes or a few hours to relax might mean more to you than you think.
What are some things that you do that feels like medicine to your mind? Leave us a comment below!
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