I have a somewhat strained relationship with mobile phone directions apps. On the one hand, they can be helpful in navigating in unfamiliar locations. On the other hand, they can be infuriatingly obtuse at honoring my preferences for places I mostly know how to get to (limited or no freeway use, as few left turns as possible, a generally direct route toward my destination). The most aggravating circumstances of all are when I lack just a little knowledge at either end of the trip. I’ll be in dense traffic in the right lane when the annoying app voice tells me “in 800 feet, turn left.” Not going to happen.
Sometimes I’m able to adjust quickly enough to resume following the app’s instructions. Say, for example, there’s an almost miraculous break in traffic. At other times, there seems to be no way to adjust my driving to match the app. So I tootle along semi-lost, somewhat relieved that I’ve allowed extra time to reach any appointments with a set schedule. After a while, the app will display a message, “recentering,” then attempt to find me an alternate route to my destination based on where I currently am.
Given the present political and media climates, both in the U.S. and globally, I need to practice “recentering” often in other aspects of my life. This can involve insulating myself temporarily from most external distractions of our too often noisy lives. It can be hard to get away from the noises of airplanes overhead, leaf blowers nearby, or a neighbor’s next home improvement project. (I need to remember to be grateful that the noises surrounding me are generally benign—not bombs, not bullets, not blaring sirens.) It’s nearly always possible, though, with some effort, to find a time/place for quiet contemplation.
Both Christian and Buddhist faith traditions have evolved forms of centering. Christianity focuses on our communication with what we call God. Buddhism stresses non-attachment to external stimuli. I doubt that I’ll ever become totally adept at either practice. Still, I’ve found that taking a breather (sometimes literally focusing on my breath) can help me be less overwhelmed by what’s going on around me.
Perhaps the phone directions apps are onto something.
Jinny's Occasional Poems 