Don’t Think and Drive at the Same Time
It was 5 am in the morning. I was on time for my drive to the airport, all packed and early with plenty of time to make my flight back home. My brain started going through my own check list. What do I need to do when I get home? What did I leave unfinished in NJ? What did I miss that was on the important to do list this trip? Then, Bam! I realize I just drove right past the airport exit off I 95. This is not a small exit; it has multiple lanes and many signs for anyone who is not lost inside of their own head. Panic time. I have no idea, no map and no person sitting next to me to help make decisions on how to get back to the airport in a timely manner. So, I do the next best thing and start talking to myself. You have all done this, inside of your head or out loud.
“I can’t believe you missed that exit, what where you thinking? Now what if you miss your flight?” My rational, calm side jumps in: “Slow down. Start looking around; just take the next exit, other people must miss that exit. There will be other signs. Stop thinking so hard and start looking around.” Now I have an external focus with a clear need to pay attention. Indeed I pick an exit that seems to go in the general direction I guess the airport might be located. There it is a small picture sign of an airplane. Now there is nothing going on in my brain except looking for pictures of airplanes and following the arrows.
Wouldn’t it me nice if all of our choices in life were so clearly marked? That we actually had physical arrows that pointed out the best choice for all important decisions. Maybe we do have more signs that help us choose and we are too busy inside our heads to look out and see them.
My thoughts for the day: Be more aware of my surroundings. Look around and notice what is going on outside of my head. Stay in the moment. Find a quiet place and time for my brain to do mental reviews.
Gwen is a life transitions coach who looks forward to your email at gpspiral@gmail.com [1]. You will gain balance in health, life and play from coaching with Gwen. She is a regular contributor to Lumigrate's forum on life and health coaching (www.lumigrate.com/forums/integrative-medicine-parts-make-whole/therapy-behavioralmental-health/life-and-health-coaches [2]) and has her own website presence for more learning if you follow to www.gpspiralconsulting.com [3]
Links:
[1] mailto:gpspiral@gmail.com
[2] http://www.lumigrate.com/forums/integrative-medicine-parts-make-whole/therapy-behavioralmental-health/life-and-health-coaches
[3] http://www.gpspiralconsulting.com/
[4] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/dont-drive-and-think-same-time#comment-646
[5] http://www.lumigrate.com/forums/integrative-medicine-parts-make-whole/therapy-occupationalfunctional/karens-korner-driving-th
[6] http://twitter.com/lumigrate
[7] http://www.lumigrate.com/forum/dont-drive-and-think-same-time#top
[8] http://www.lumigrate.com/user/login?destination=node/502%23comment-form
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Comments
I was so interested to see what Gwen had posted today. For one, because I had missed a turn today as well -- turned too soon by a block, and then said 'just park and walk the last block'. Got my head together more. But I had JUST responded to what Yenta wrote about writing down your history and I was talking about state of mind and leaving your past on paper mostly so you have more time today to think, write, feel about TODAY and that has an impact on the future (both inside and around your physical body, is the belief of integrative medicine). The example which came to me to write about had to do with driving, and as you know, we now have Karen's Korner about driving here at Lumigrate.com.
As you know, it is a pleasure to see people communicating in the Forums at Lumigrate and on our facebook areas in addition, and I look forward to seeing the professionals 'cross polinate' more now that we're getting quite a nice palate of PTs (Gwen is a PT in addition to being a life coach) and OTs such as Karen (who is also certified in driving rehabilitation), Petie, etc. The neuro PT I have long wanted to write for Lumigrate just agreed; she specializes in balance and is certified in Epley for vertigo, etc.
If anyone is interested in Karen's Korner, the link to it on Lumigrate is: www.lumigrate.com/forums/integrative-medicine-parts-make-whole/therapy-occupationalfunctional/karens-korner-driving-th [5]
Karen and Gwen, I encourage you to connect on facebook, email, the phone since you're writing about the same concepts and live in the same general region of Colorado. I'll put a link in Karen's Korner to this topic as well, since it overlaps in interest so hopefully people coming to Lumigrate in the future will find their way around to all the neat stuff they're interested in a streamlined way. As always, Gwen, nice piece! ~~ Mardy
Live and Learn. Learn and Live Better! is my motto. I'm Mardy Ross, and I founded Lumigrate in 2008 after a career as an occupational therapist with a background in health education and environmental research program administration. Today I function as the desk clerk for short questions people have, as well as 'concierge' services offered for those who want a thorough exploration of their health history and direction to resources likely to progress their health according to their goals. Contact Us comes to me, so please do if you have questions or comments. Lumigrate is "Lighting the Path to Health and Well-Being" for increasing numbers of people. Follow us on social networking sites such as: Twitter: http://twitter.com/lumigrate [6] and Facebook. (There is my personal page and several Lumigrate pages. For those interested in "groovy" local education and networking for those uniquely talented LumiGRATE experts located in my own back yard, "LumiGRATE Groove of the Grand Valley" is a Facebook page to join. (Many who have joined are beyond our area but like to see the Groovy information! We not only have FUN, we are learning about other providers we can be referring patients to and 'wearing a groove' to each other's doors -- or websites/home offices!) By covering some of the things we do, including case examples, it reinforces the concepts at Lumigrate.com as well as making YOU feel that you're part of a community. Which you ARE at Lumigrate!