The Caring Counselor

I do enjoy living in a region that actually gets to experience all four seasons. It mixes things up, and I get to experience the best of all four. With that being said, it’s that time of the year again! The birds are a-chirpin’. The bunnies are a-hoppin’. The sun is a-shinin’. Spring has sprung, baby!

Every year when the weather breaks, it carries with it a sigh of relief. *Letting out a long exhale that we held in since December* “We made it back here again.”

That weather crept back into our forecast this week. The temperature hit a comfortable 65-70 degrees. Partly cloudy skies. Gentle breeze. It all hit just the right spots.

I walked out of my office after a long workday. The sun already set far below the horizon, but boy did the air feel comfortable. As I stepped into my car, I took a moment to reflect on a potential opportunity. Here I was with a beautiful evening, a sportscar, a hourlong commute home. I decided to engage in one of my favorite therapeutic activities- mindful immersion.

Mindful immersion means that you take an activity and apply mindfulness concepts to it. You immerse yourself in the present experience and take in what it has to offer. You savor the sights, sounds, and feelings that come with it. In this case, it was time to drive.

I first put back the sun roof, exposing the night sky seemingly inviting me to plunge into its beautiful abyss. I rolled down the two front windows, and then picked out a favorite alternative rock playlist on Pandora. (Yes, I still use Pandora like the old fogey that I am.) Lastly, I perused through several GPS routes and chose the one with the most scenic route. This route took me through the heart of downtown Philadelphia.

I got on the road, and let the experience commence. I kid you not when I say this. It was most definitely the therapy I needed. It had been so long since I last “just went for a drive.” I used to all the time as a teenager in my beat up ’94 Chevy Camaro. And here I was reliving those sensations. Driving through the heart of a city passing historic landmarks you read about in textbooks. Being illuminated alongside the highway. All of this occurring while I am straight up vibing with the music and letting the breeze graze my skin. It felt absolutely amazing. Not a care in the world. Just the car, the music, the road, and me.

-The Caring Counselor