I find that long drives give me a chance to unfurl my mind, and I seldom waste them. During a recent drive back from my home-state of Indiana, I had nineteen hours to think, and here’s what I came up with.

1. Being a people-pleaser can be either a blessing or a curse, depending on the person you’re trying to please.

2. I will always choose quaint, quirky and comfortable over anything else.

3. The person who cares the least in a relationship has the majority of the power (not that I’ve ever experienced this personally 🙂 )

4.  I love the sound of a cat purring. It’s like a warm hug to my soul. I also love cool breezes on muggy days, a perfect cup of coffee, stimulating conversations that you wish could last forever, naps, and people who ask you to text or call them when you make it home.

5. I despise country and western music, pickles and people who block the grocery aisle with their cart.

6. If you dawdle in the crosswalk after I’ve waved you on, I’ll probably fantasize about running you over, even if it’s just for a second.

7. The right song at the right time can completely alter the course of my day. The same goes for the wrong song at the wrong time. I really need to purge all the depressing songs off my ITunes account.

8. Nobody’s life is easy. Most people just don’t bother to complain about it.

9. If my GPS says “recalculating” three times in a row, it’s fairly safe to say that I’m either going to yell at it or turn it off, depending on my mood.

10. I trust too easily and forgive too slowly. I think it’s because I’m honest to a fault and expect other people to be the same way.

11. Being compulsively organized isn’t the same thing as being a neat freak. I will sometimes put things away before I’m finished with them without realizing, but I can walk past a pile of unfolded laundry for several days before giving into the task.

12. Just once, I’d like to get something I really want without having to bleed for it first.

13. Sleep deprivation turns some people into uglier versions of themselves.

14. Most people don’t really listen to you when you talk. They are waiting for you to finish talking so they can speak.

15. People who always tend to “one up” you have self-esteem issues. While they are also very annoying, I try to remember this before I get too aggregated with them.

16. Hands down, June is my favorite month. I love all the newness of summer – the fresh greenery, the powder blue skies and the feeling that I can do anything I put my mind to.

17. While I yearn for love, I often push people away when they get too close. I think it’s a self-defense tactic, and I really need to work on it.

18. I have a low tolerance for anything sticky.

19. Why do we always settle for less than what we want? Why not go for it and not stop until we get there?

20. I have a tendency to mother-hen people who are sick or hurt to the point where they tell me to stop.

21. If I care about you, I will do anything for you, even if it hurts me in the process. I don’t think people care enough about each other any more, because I seldom see this returned. Friendship is about having one another’s back, about stepping out of our comfort zones when we need to.

22. I will always search for the good in a bad situation. Call me an optimist or just one of those annoyingly happy people, but I can’t imagine spending more than a minute being angry/sad/depressed.

My mind stopped unfurling by the time I hit the New Jersey state line and the traffic picked up, but I’m looking forward to my next drive. It gives me time to think about the person I am, as well as the person I’d like to become.

Joni Mayhan is a paranormal investigator and the author of 13 books. Click on any of the covers below to learn more about them.