The Old Coot takes a ride.
By Merlin Lessler
You don’t have time to meditate? Or lay on a couch
in a therapist’s office? Then do it the old coot way, take a ride in your car (after
the sun comes up) on a Saturday, Sunday or a holiday morning. Go alone; turn
the radio off and go exploring to nearby areas, but places you’ve never been. Learn about your surroundings; put a new map
in your head; get rural if you can; go slower than you normally would and look
around. Really see what this other world is really all about.
I find it fun to contrast how wealth is displayed
in so called upper class areas versus middle income, poor and rural areas. In
wealthy areas it’s all about the house: big, fancy, extensive landscaping,. Often
jammed together on small lots. Rural is different. People live in moderate
sized houses with huge yards. It is amazing how many hours of mowing it must take
to keep up with it. But mowing isn’t really a chore, it’s another form of
meditation; you are all alone, doing something monotonous, so your mind wanders
and digs out stuff and helps you solve your problems. Just like this “Sunday”
drive I’m suggesting you do every once in a while.
The thing I like most about rural areas, aside
from the huge mown lawns, is the people who show their wealth by filling up
their acreage with old, decaying cars and tractors, discarded household
appliances, farm equipment, rusty swing sets. You name it; if it doesn’t work
or look good anymore, you will find it there. Some people think this is ugly,
but you can see it as beautiful; it is like modern art that appears to be blobs
of paint, but draws you in to find the beauty if you lose yourself when viewing
it.
You never come home from one of these rides
without being entertained and changed a little bit. But, most of all, a little
more relaxed, calmed and mentally healthier. Happy Riding!
Comments? Send to mlessler7@gmail.com
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