GPS Gone Wrong. Negative Thoughts vs. my GPS

Yesterday my negative thoughts clouded my normal common sense.

I’m one of the most positive people I know but I wasn’t always like this. When I was younger negative thoughts came naturally. I’ve had to work to intentionally change my negative thoughts to positive.

I still focus on my thoughts daily, but sometimes, well, those old negative thoughts slip through the cracks.

YESTERDAY MORNING

“Michael, our GPS has some sort of major problem. I am so frustrated I could scream!”

Thus began my rant when I spoke with my boyfriend.

“I used our GPS to get to the Workshop at the Hilton Hotel in Philadelphia this morning. I put in the hotel address and I headed towards the Philadelphia Airport. My drive was a disaster,” I complained.

I know the way to the airport, but I was worried because I wasn’t sure how to get to the hotel.

It was bad enough that I was going to be driving during rush hour, but our damn GPS got me even more stressed. I couldn’t stop my negative thoughts pouring in.

I’m going to be late. 

I’m going to feel awful walking into a room of 250 people.

They’re all going to be looking at me.

It started while I was driving down Lancaster Ave. Our GPS was insistent that I turn right at the next street. “Turn right. Turn right”, she repeated. I ignored her and kept on driving towards the highway.

During the next 3 miles the only sound I heard was her prim british voice calmly repeating “Recalculate. Recalculate”.

She was beginning to annoy me.

I continued driving straight and ignored her while my negative feelings started to rise. I knew I’d never get to the workshop on time if I turned off the road and headed into a suburban neighborhood.

“Recalculate. Recalculate”.

Arrggghhh. I was irritated. Why is she sending me in the wrong direction?

I turned onto Route 476 South which I knew would get me to my destination. I had to drive on the highway for the next 10 miles so I turned on the radio to listen to NPR. Two minutes later while listening to the traffic report I heard her distinct british voice: “Take Exit 4 in 2 miles.”

Again I ignored her.

“Recalculate” she said.

This is beginning to get old.

“Take Exit 3 in 2 miles.”  she calmly informed me.

What the hell is going on here?  Exit 3  takes me away from the airport!

“Recalculate” she retorted.

Am I imagining things or does she actually sound nasty?

“Take Exit 2 in 1 mile.” she insisted.

Maybe she wants me to avoid some sort of traffic jam.

I kept on driving straight and took a sip of coffee.

“Recalculate,” she snapped.

Damn. I feel like I’m in the twilight zone. Why didn’t we buy the GPS that Consumer Reports recommended?

“Take Exit 1 in 2 miles”, she said.

OK. I’ve had it. It’s bad enough that I’m driving on the highway during rush hour. I don’t want to get there feeling agitated and negative. Listening to you is making me nuts.

“I’m shutting you down, sweetheart,” I snarled as I yanked her plug in angry frustration.

Silence.

Thank goodness it’s finally quiet in here.

I can feel those negative thoughts starting to leave.

Serves us right for buying a cheap GPS.

 LAST NIGHT

“Wen,” Michael’s voice calmly interrupted my story and brought me back to the present.

“Remember when we last used the GPS you said you wanted to avoid the highway?” he said.

“Well, I activated the Avoid Highway setting. I forgot to deactivate it. She was just doing was she was programmed to do.”

Oh.

Wow.

I feel really stupid.

I can’t believe that my negative thoughts got me so agitated.

My thoughts were like a dark cloud that I couldn’t see through.

If my negative thoughts weren’t front and center, maybe I would have figured it out.

Gotta thank my GPS for a lesson learned!