It occurred to me while driving home the other day. From Nashville to my small town home of Portland Tennessee it’s roughly 43 miles.

It’s not too much of a commute. But with constant construction, traffic, and other lunatics there are plenty of chances for this daily drive to turn ugly.

Considering all these would-be/could-be scenarios in which my commute could turn into a trip to the hospital (or worse), you would think that I am ever vigilant. Always on the lookout. Head on a swivel. That sort of thing.

Would it surprise you, for me to say, that sometimes I make it all the way home without even noticing that I had been driving?

Instead of in my car, on the road, I am traveling greater distances in my head space.

What deadline is coming up? Do I need to call Jim back? Did Sue get my email? My wife hasn’t called me about our son, is he ok? Where is that blue pen? Am I going to have to cook dinner tonight?

You get the idea. I’m sure we’ve all been there.

Next thing I know I’m pulling into my spot in the driveway and throwing it in park. Hell, at this point I’m lucky that it’s my driveway.

This particular time I had to stop and think about it. I could not recall any specifics about my drive AT ALL! This was more than a little alarming. As I got to thinking about it, I started to freak myself out. What if this? What if that?

Then, to be honest, I said to myself, “You’re such a bad-ass.” I just drove 43 miles, changing lanes, obeying different speed limits on the interstate and surface streets, etc. Without incident.

Elon Musk should study me to perfect his new machine.

After I was done praising my autopilot for yet another job well done, I started to wonder. How often and in what situations do I just turn things over to my autopilot? How many times do I not even notice I’ve done it? How much of my life is spent in the “auto-zone”?

With my wife, son, family, friends, clients, and work?

Obviously, my co-pilot has gotten me most of the way, so far (good job big guy). But what have I missed out on? What more could I have added to my own life? And to the life of those I care about, if I had been more involved? More present? More aware? If I had actually been “driving the car”?

How can I notice when I switch into the auto-zone and then switch back? How can I be more present in my own world and the world in general?

That’s when I started to pay more attention to this whole mindfulness meditation stuff. Honestly I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t think I could do it. I can’t keep my mind from wandering while I’m doing 70mph on the interstate. How am I gonna do it sitting still with my eyes closed?

This was definitely not an overnight success. But I stuck with it. Last year my New Year’s resolution was to give it 15 minutes a day everyday for just a month. It would’ve been too daunting to ask myself to do it every day, FOREVER. Just a month to start.

The results have been great. After that month I continue to meditate no less than 4 days a week, sometimes more. My mind will always wander. But I now have the uncanny ability to notice when it does and to bring it back.

I’m more involved at home and at work. I can take back the driver’s seat, so to speak.

I just wanted to take the time to share this with you. That there is a way to take back a bigger portion of your life. To get more out of it. It’s not a cure-all. You won’t be bestowed with magical powers or control things with your mind. (When I find out how to do this I will share it also.) But you will be more in control. Which can be very comforting.

As Dan Harris put it in his book, “It will make you 10% happier.” And to me that’s awesome.