Preparing for a road trip, we each have our list of “must-haves” or “must-dos.” My husband and I just drove from Colorado to southern Alabama to spend some time with family. My road trip prep list centered around having the car serviced, a snack bag packed with sweet and salty treats we don’t typically indulge in, and organizing the one grab bag needed for the overnight hotel stay. His list included researching the various sights we might see and explore during stretch breaks, making sure there was a wide array of music available, and confirming there was a clear line of sight out the rearview mirror. We each prepared differently, and together we had what we most needed, and some things we thankfully never used.
Road trips spur us to think and plan ahead – from best-case scenarios to worst case, from dreaming of unknown sites and adventures to practical realities of miles to travel and refueling stops, from being a passive passenger to being an active driver.
And in 2020, road trips bring new dimensions as we factor in curiosity, safety, and wellbeing during a global pandemic, a social justice movement, and a consequential election. In fact, as I see daily articles outlining the potential uncertainties after a contested election, it seems our nation is preparing for one massive road trip over the next several months. We are each thinking about it and preparing for it in a variety of ways within our homes and neighborhoods, at our workplaces, and within our broader society. I know at The Civic Canopy, we are supporting team members to schedule flexible time in their calendar; buddy up for meetings to have double hands, heads, and hearts available to help adapt to the needs of community groups; and anticipate last-minute changes in plans. We have begun to create and share “tips and tricks” to help us think through a variety of scenarios so we don’t assume everything will run exactly as planned over the next couple of months.
When we sense we may be veering from our road trip plan, we go back to our shared values and goals for the journey. How are we balancing the various goals to arrive at our destination, live the experience, stay safe under difficult conditions, etc?
While my husband and I drove and drove and drove, we noted the vastly different beauty of the United States. From the Rocky Mountains of the west to the flat open plains of the panhandle, to the river valleys and bayous of the south. So different, so unique and so beautiful. We thought about the different topographies and histories of the land we drove through, about the different livelihoods and cultural beliefs. We wondered how such a diverse nation becomes a whole.
As we move into November and all the unknowns it brings, I hope I am able to create the space to feel and experience what I need to feel and experience while also allowing those I’m riding along with or driving by, to feel and experience what they need to feel and experience. I hope I recognize that we won’t all drive the same speed yet ultimately, we are better off if we if the journey is safe. And mostly, I hope I can remember to offer a smile, a wave, a kind gesture to all who my road trip intersects with.
If our core values ground us when the road gets rough, how might I best live The Civic Canopy’s core belief throughout the road trip ahead that civil society is a place for caring, compassion, and love?