night driving
 

so I've discovered a new way to sort my head. I live in Arizona where there are lots of empty dark streets in the midle of nowhere. I find that driving aimlessly down the at night with my high beams on is almost hypnotic. And mildly creepy. Like being in a zombie movie or something. But over all, the way it zones me out helps me get my head in some kind of order in a bizarre way. So it got me thinking and wondering what kind of ways other people sort themselves out. How do you put your head back together TFP?

Diving on empty roads always clears my head. The problem is finding the empty roads.
Playing ball with my dog works real well too.

viewing the titty board always brings me back to center :D

Night driving helps me out a lot too. But I like to do it with a friend to keep me company. No need to talk, just being there is good enough for me.

Working in a garden. Preferably hard labor. Not quite right without it.

Same here. Gas is a bitch but in the desperate hours it is worth it.

. Digging, planting and getting dirty and sweaty.

. A long, hot bath.

. Stereo headphones tuned to either classical, jazz or Kitaro.

Novels center me.

AZ has some fab wide and open roads for night driving. I would do the same if I lived there. Being here though I like to dance while doing laundry. Like you, something about the rhythm and aimlessness gets my brain all groovy organized.

Sex.

I have a pretty large lawn, close to an acre of grass, and a tractor to mow it with. Each time I mow my lawn I try to do it in a pattern I have never tried before. I really have to concentrate to come up with a unique plan and then to carry it out. While I am mowing I also concentrate on getting my lines as perfectly straight as possible. When I am finished my head is on as straight as it will ever be. I only dread what would happen if the dog or one my kids would ever run in front of the tractor.

I used to love to drive the night; from Belmont, CA to Half Moon Bay, down to Santa Cruz, then back up the 101. It was very refreshing and relaxing.

I hate driving nowadays in major metropolitans. It is not enjoyable, unless it is at night when few to no one is on the road.

I love driving in Iceland for that very reason.... It's quiet and still most everywhere I drive outside of Reykjavik.

Cleaning.

Not a typo, cleaning. It's easy, has a clear goal and is completely mind numbing. When I get stressed I go nuts, mops/buckets scrubbing, the works.

Meditating while driving? Maybe not a good idea...

I put my head back together exercising, posting on TFP, reading, listening to music, eating something delicious, or letting out a massive fart.

I prefer walking to driving. It used to be jogging when I was in better shape, but until the weather stabilizes my knees are going to be too sore to do that anyway, so walking works just fine.

Dominating 16 year olds in video games and hoping they weep knowing this old man has better reflexes than they do.

Few things can get your frustrations out like shooting someone in the face, and since the court order, its best I do it online.

There are other methods of course.

Driving during lower light (late afternoon, early morning.. but not nighttime) on twisty country roads. Cleaning stalls (I get to do this for over an hour every day now, yay! Might keep me more centered), riding horses, laying on my back in a green field looking at the sky and listening to the sounds around me.. looking at the stars.

Whenever I need to calm down, I think of Coldplay's "Don't Panic" and I'm instantly taken to the country road I used to drive down to get to work.. going around a slow bend in early autumn, with brightly-colored leaves gently falling to cover the road, green grass and small country homes on either side. It's my "everything's okay" moment.

Funny you say that. Back when Parachutes was released, I used to use that as my "calming down" song as well, or to help focus before studying or finishing an assignment.

Night driving definitely mellows me out and opens my mind (and if jaywalkers aren't careful, I might open theirs), the gym helps as well, as does being alone at night, listening to some Bowie or Lennon. A night walk can help too, but the danger of evil hillbilly psychos roaming the lonely streets is a little intimidating.

The thing about it with me, is it only really puts me into that state when I am alone on the road and have the high beams on. Something about the tunnel effect it gives just puts me in that state of mind. Without the high beams it just doesn't extend far enough, and with other lights and traffic around, it ruins the effect for me.

For me, it's listening to music or reading. It gives me time to not think about it, which helps me become more objective, which helps me to sort. Awesome topic, btw. Also, I'm thrilled about your "Location". It's really cool to have you home.

For me, it's walking for at least an hour in the bush or on the beach.

Or swimming in a turbulent sea.