Drive therapy offers catharsis

On a gorgeous afternoon here in Poplar Bluff I decided to devote a lunch break to taking a nice cathartic cruise. Road trip playlist started, no destination in mind, just a nice peaceful cruise with some good tunes and fresh air.

It sounds a little silly maybe, but to me, it’s like therapy. Sometimes a drive helps to clear your head, reduce stress, gives you time to think, distances you from your problems and last but not least, forces you to put down the phone and digital devices (at least we hope).

Anyone who knows me at all knows music is my thing, so the radio is always on. I love to drive and sing. I am live in concert, because I am alone, so I don’t care if you see me belting it out at the stoplight, again this is my therapy.

If I am in real need of peace, a long drive through the country it is. If I am feeling lonely or bored, a trip down the strip for old times’ sake; do the young people do this anymore?

I remember my days as a teen in Puxico when I would put the entirety of my lunch money in my gas tank so that I could drive around the same three blocks 267 times. Those were the days. The only cell phones were gigantic bag phones at this point and gas was just over a dollar.

I imagine when I am elderly they are really going to have a hard time taking my license. I am already absolutely certain I will protest when or if that day arises.

Because sometimes you just need to take a drive with the windows down and the radio up.

Misty DeJournett is a staff writer at the Daily American Republic. She can be reached at mdejournett@darnews.com.