Intuition vs. the GPS: Florida Traffic Escapades
"I'm getting off here."
This is what I quickly said to my 13-year old daughter as I quickly turned my head over my right shoulder and checked my blind spot (even though the car has lane change assist), turned on my blinker (most Florida residents think this step is optional), and got off at the last exit for a few miles and nine miles before our exit.
There are many things I love about Florida. Having lived in five states and two countries (Canada being the other), Florida is hands-down my favorite, except for one little thing — traffic. Which is fine. It just means I pay attention to it and adjust my plans if I prefer to spend less time sitting in it.
Because there's so much traffic, I always pull up Google Maps and keep it on if a trip requires the highway — because anything can happen.
It was 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the Tuesday of President Trump's congressional address, and I had plans to join a virtual watch party.
According to the GPS, we were 15 minutes away when I noticed the time had jumped to 23 minutes.
This is when I immediately took the next exit — which was a few miles before there would be another one. I knew going through town would add at least another 10 minutes with all the traffic lights, and still, my GPS kept instructing me to make a U-turn and get back on the highway, telling me it would be faster than the backroads.
"Make a U-Turn at the next intersection."
NO!
The internal "no" was strong. It wasn't a voice in my head — it wasn't my thinking brain. It was my body. It was automatic.
My daughter asked me why I got off the highway so soon, especially when the map kept telling me to turn around and return to the highway.
I turned the GPS off and carried on our merry way home. Made it in plenty of time to watch the congressional address and stay up way past my bedtime.
Logging into Facebook at one point during the evening (comfy at home under a blanket, in my pajamas), I saw some posts on a local community page with photos of people stuck in traffic on the same highway I was just traveling.
Unfortunately, there was a terrible accident that involved a motorcycle fatality. When there's a fatality, they close as much of the highway as needed (in this case, all four lanes) to investigate.
It was closed for hours. My daughter and I would have been stuck for up to three hours if I hadn't immediately turned off at the closest exit.
I was grateful for my practice of really listening to my body. It's taken some time to learn the difference between my brain and my body. And in the past, what I used to refer to as my intuition. Was often my brain guiding the way.
I teach intuitive writing — the process of tuning into your body and tuning out the mind to write in flow and co-create with the Universe, God.
As part of the practice of writing, it's been useful for me to practice listening to my body ALL THE TIME — not only with writing.
In the little moments like these, I was listening — and not reasoning — oh, but the map says this way is faster — and TRUSTING the answer I get, my intuition has gotten stronger.
It's louder now than it has been in the past because I pay attention all the time. This is not only when I'm writing a surrendered first draft (SFD). Instead, I'm constantly bringing my attention back to now (the only moment that matters) when my thoughts try to swirl.
NOW is where all the answers are:
Do I want cherries or mango in my morning smoothie?
Do I want mushroom powder in my latte today, and do I want cacao or matcha?
The clothes I choose each morning
How do I move my body today — rebounding, weights, yoga, or rest?
The first task I do at my desk — check emails or look at my schedule for the day?
What do I write first — the blog on my to-do list or something else?
There are so many life lessons that involve time in cars. Like this road conversation from a few weeks back about this exact topic of trusting your body.
