For an entire day – more than 100 miles – I drove at the speed limit.
On the winding, 35-mph back roads near my home, through “downtown” Derry, N.H., on interstates 93 and 495 and down scenic Route 2 -- even where there is an absurdly dictated 25 mph approaching the Concord rotary -- I honored those speed limit signs, and all the way home, as well.
Vehicles driven by ticked-off motorists lined up behind me on the two-lane highways, motorists swooshed around me on the interstates and I nearly ended up with someone else’s front grill in my back seat as I slowed for that rotary.
For this speed queen, it was agony.
And yet…
There was something liberating about going more slowly. I felt more in control, less at the mercy of other motorists’ unpredictable or crazy maneuvers. More even. It was like letting go of all the striving, not caring if I was literally passed by.
When I arrived at work, I felt more calm and receptive than I can remember feeling in a long time.
It made me wonder if there weren’t some lessons to be learned for my off-road activities, as well.
I may even try this again.
Not to mention the improvement in my gas mileage
