Music, the road, and staying sane.

There’s something quietly therapeutic about music while driving. Not classical, jazz or Yanni, but just the right rock ‘n roll song arriving exactly when you are stuck at a light that has been red since the last ice age.

The right tune converts honking into head-bobbing.

Music lowers my blood pressure without telling me to breathe deeply. My shoulders drop. My jaw and death grip on the steering wheel unclenches.

The internal rant softens into a familiar chorus. Suddenly, I am not trapped in traffic. I have been transported to a happier place.

Errands, grocery runs become tolerable. Long drives morph into therapy sessions with no follow-up questions. Even bad days improve when paired with the right song. You may still be annoyed, but that feeling is suppressed for the time being.

Music also time-travels. One song can drop you back into your first ever car, the top down rocking out to Springsteen, seeing a version of yourself that has yet to discover retinol and single process.

Driving without music feels wrong like brushing your teeth without toothpaste or a fabulous meal sans wine.

Music soothes the soul and literally makes us happy.

Right now, I am spending the miles with Teddy Swims, Bad Bunny, Springsteen, Chappell Roan, Hozier, Sombr and I just cannot quit Miley Cyrus’, Flowers.

On the road again and loving it.