By: Todd Wheatley
(c) IQ-2k   01-07-14

I became part of the 50+ crowd in 2012. I am active, healthy, and I keep my mind engaged. From time to time, however, I get confused while driving in and around the DFW Metroplex. My home for more than 35 years. This has been a growing source of consternation for the past three years.

First of all I would caution anyone not from here to avoid the DFW freeways!! Construction and renovations clogging traffic in all directions. Billions of dollars keeping the economy afloat, but talk about a commuters nightmare.

Naturally all of this change is a contributing factor to my occasional loss of direction, but as a pilot I have long taken pride in my "navigating" abilities. Today some of that pride returned as I put the pieces of my DFW driving confusion together.

Today I realized I have been suffering from too much experience rather than too much age. Experience that has developed into an internal set of maps that have not change a great deal over these many years. In fact, before the massive construction projects, I could get anywhere within a 100 mile radius by memory alone.

Now only a few short miles from my base of operations and I miss turns or go in the wrong direction. It is exceptionally troubling, but this confusion only happens when I am driving "in-town" everywhere else I read a map and get around perfectly.

I have driven these roads so much the patterns are ingrained into my memory. Now given the massive amount of change these long held patterns must be allowed alter. I find that taking alternate routes to my favorite spots and work locations helps hold my attention and keep my brain from confusion.

(c) 2014    DR-KNOW
IQ-2k Information Services


TOP     HOME
articles     podcasts     videos

Information eQuation (BOOK)
Information eQuation (examples)

EMAIL COMMENTS to DR-KNOW

Please support this web site: give any amount via PAYPAL ("money TRANSFER") to todd@dr-know.biz