I took a shortcut on my way to work this morning.  Thankfully, it only added twenty minutes to my trip.  I’ve notoriously done this in my life…  I’ll try a different route, expecting to save time, and find out in the end that my route didn’t take me anywhere I intended.  It’s caused me much consternation and tumult.  But, it’s also given me pause and the desire to reflect upon my habit.  I think I figured out why I do it.

You see, I’m not afraid to take the road less traveled.  Not afraid to take the meandering path through the trees that may not go anywhere.  If it adds a few minutes to my trip it’s worth it if I get to see something new.  In my brain, I’m not scared to take a take a chance on an unproven route.  Sometimes, I want to see different scenery and other times I’ll go a different way just because it’s different.  To learn a new route.  To see where a road goes.  Many times, I’ll legitimately think I’m going to save time with my new path.  Sometimes I do save time, and many times, I don’t.  Most of the time, I don’t care either way.

Driving this way is like captaining a ship on the open ocean and all you have is a compass.  If you’re traveling north and you know where north is, you’ll be able to get to your destination just by following your compass.  Just keep going the right direction and you’ll eventually get there – wherever “there” is.  It doesn’t matter if a wave jostles you off course once in a while as long as you keep an eye on your trajectory and keep that consistent throughout your journey.

I know, driving on the road is not quite the same as navigating a big open ocean.  On the ocean, you can go wherever you want and make course corrections whenever you want – like driving in a huge parking lot with no cars in it.  We all know that roads dead end, are closed for construction, lead places you don’t want to go, and sometimes take you through the ghetto.  My theory is still solid.  When you want to take a shortcut, just keep heading in the right direction and a whole new world will unveil itself.  There are all sorts of different ways to ultimately travel north.

My rules for effective shortcut management:

1.  If you’re legitimately trying to save time with your shortcut, it’s worth checking a map, your GPS, or your phone.  Per my unplanned detour today, it’s proof positive that all roads don’t end up where you want them to.

2.  If time is not the primary consideration for your shortcut, make sure the route you choose has scenic opportunities – i.e. a lake, forest, beautiful views, old houses…  Whatever.  It doesn’t matter.  If you’re going off the beaten path make sure you at least have something to look at while you’re doing it.

3.  Sometimes, your trip is less about what’s going on outside your car as it is about what’s happening inside your head.  If you’re taking a little cruise to clear your mind, pick a road that no one else drives on.  Get off the thoroughfares and find yourself a nice peaceful country road.  Enjoy the sun.  Turn the heat on full blast and open your window.  Think.  Daydream.  Reflect.  It’s kind of a “moving meditation.”

So, my thought is to not always worry about taking the shortest distance between two points.  Shortcuts that turn into longcuts aren’t really so bad.  It’s about the journey.  Hopefully your shortcuts yield the fun results I’ve been blessed with throughout my life.