A car seat is like a psychologists couch

When was the last time you gave someone a lift? Not dropped your partner to the airport - although that is the single most selfless act a human can do - I’m talking swung past to pick up a friend.

For me, it’s been forever.

Back when I first got my licence, we carpooled all the time. If I drove today, it was your turn tomorrow. We’d taxi each other all over town. It worked well.

Logistically, why take multiple cars? And fewer greenhouse gas emissions were a win for the environment.

But the benefits extended beyond these.

Remember the feeling of calling shot gun on a road trip. Windows down. Feet on the dashboard. Five hours in the car together solving the world’s problems. Offering a lift is no different, albeit a condensed version.

These deep and meaningful chats always seem to happen in the car. There’s something about sitting side by side, looking out the windscreen that encourages those 5AM kick-ons kinds of conversations. Then there’s the traffic.

It’s an exercise in mindfulness. Forcing you to slow down, stop, leave space for others, and be present. Peak hour teaches us that we’re a part of something far bigger than ourselves. Life is happening around us, bumper to bumper.

Even when the conversation doesn’t flow, there’s something beautiful about a shared silence. Feeling comfortable enough to exist in it, with no pressure to talk. But invariably, someone opens up.

From love and life to work or whatever’s on your mind, these trips helped us make sense of things. I miss that.

So, give your mate a lift. It’s free therapy that gets everyone home safely.

ZP / NpG

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