I never really thought about it, but maybe one reason I love roadtrips so much is the forced absence of screens. When you're at the wheel heading for the horizon, you can't be on your phone, too. Moreover? I don't miss it.
And that was true today, as we headed north to Buffalo to celebrate my mother-in-law's 80th birthday. We saw cherry blossoms, daffodils, mountains, pastures, horses, log cabins, cemeteries, and trailer parks as we drove through sun and torrential rain. We talked, listened to an audiobook, and sang along with the radio, but we didn't swipe, tap, scroll, like, save, or delete a single thing.
It was pretty wonderful.
Why take on just one challenge when you can tackle two? This month, I'm using the Action for Happiness Mindful March calendar as a daily prompt for living and writing.
Sounds like a good day. I love the second to last line in your piece, "We talked, listened to an audiobook, and sang along with the radio, but we didn't swipe, tap, scroll, like, save, or delete a single thing." It has a great cadence. Thanks for sharing the Action for Happiness calendar too.
ReplyDeleteI'm always sooo much happier when I spend less time on screens. I think you make a good point about road trips: maybe one reason they're enjoyable is how present we are and filled with the scenes of our immediate environment. No screens! Fabulous use of listing here to capture all of the things you saw, all of the ways you spent your time, and all of the things you weren't doing on your phone.
ReplyDeleteI love a good drive! On a long drive, I appreciate the changing views and the chance to let my mind wander. Have a safe trip up and home.
ReplyDeleteI love your description of your drive. You've really captured the joy of road trips!
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