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Routes

If you own a smart phone or have a newer vehicle, I’m pretty certain you use or have used the GPS feature.  Most units have the option in the configuration to select shortest route – time wise, shortest route distance wise, freeway routes, off freeway routes, etc. Because we are an impatient lot, I would venture a guess that most pick the shortest route time wise.  What I’ve found through using mine though is that the shortest route is not always the shortest route, time wise.  The GPS does not account for detours, wrecks, or construction.  I have another service in the truck that allows me to look at real time traffic to determine what’s going on relative to my route.  Between the two, I can choose the most efficient route to get to my destination.  Keep in mind, most efficient does not always mean shortest.  Rather, it means the best use of my time.

I believe route options are a daily part of life, not only for travel but also for decisions on which direction to take in your life for any given day.  I sometimes take the same route in life even though I know it is full of detours and potholes, but there is a comfort with that route.  Other times I intentionally look for a different route even though it may take longer.  Sometimes I may need to go around the block to get next door rather than taking the few steps it would normally take if I were looking for the shortest route.

Are you a shortest route time wise then gets spun up at detour kind of person, or are you a let me take a few minutes to check things out and see what route works best for me today kinda person?  I challenge you to vary your route a little.  You never know what new experience may come from taking a different path.