I've heard a few times from friends and extended family, about the relief of being behind the wheel after the sun sets.

Something about heading off into the night without much of a destination in mind, brings a level of comfort for some.

Such a level is something I never thought myself capable of understanding.

That is until I had the honor of going out one night with a friend and simply being driven around in comfortable silence.

Imagine, it's early autumn. The leaves have only begun to change color, and the night air gradually grows cooler with each night day that passes. One September day I was at home enjoying a day off, when I suddenly received an invitation from someone who I had come to know through work, and became something of a friend.

We'd hung-out a number of times before this, enough to be comfortable with silence between one another, and this night seemed no different.

That is, until the sun had set...

Before that, I was keeping busy with my phone and a handful of household tasks that needed to be done. Again, Imagine, the usual tasks of day-to-day housework from laundry to dishes and everything that makes up the in-between.

It was late afternoon by the time my phone had buzzed with a notification. Recognizing the name, opened the message and found an invite waiting for me. Accepting the invite, I gave myself little time to finish what tasks I had left. Causing myself to pick up the pace considerably. Once my friend arrived, we set off for a local park they frequented growing up.

A quiet little forested area with a cement sidewalk for a trail, leading in a full circle set around the inner park. We spent the better part of the afternoon in this park walking, talking, and laughing casually until day turned to night.

With the final slivers of daylight moments away from fading, we went back to the car and set off. For the first hour we, drove with music and chit chat. Enjoying each other's company and the ride itself all together. It wasn't till the midnight hours settled in around us that silence had found a home between us. And it wasn't till the first of those hours did I begin to fully unpack all the things I had heard about with regards to night driving.

Because of this friend and the many stories from those around me, I always carried the thought of one day going on my own night drive in the back of my mind. Just to "test the waters", so to speak.

It had been over a month since that night with my friend. The thought never truly leaving my mind. By now, the leaves have taken on different arrays of beauty. From deep red to fiery orange very little green remained above my head. The air dawned a sweeter aroma and the breeze began to bite more as weeks came and went.

Fall was just around the corner...

After what felt like a longer day away from home, I had something of a rollercoaster of emotions racing through me. So many that I felt myself turning numb as a self-defense mechanism. For better or worse, I thought "what could go wrong?" Thankfully nothing. What did end up happening was I had fully committed myself to the idea of going for a late-night drive by myself. Finally. After over a year and some change of sitting on the idea I chose to execute and put the words of those around me to the test. Something about the day said I needed it..

Not knowing what to expect from the experience, I set my phone to Do Not Disturb and set off into the darkness. I had a vague sense that it would be this relieving ride. Instead, it was more clarifying. It was by no means what I wanted, but it was certainly what I needed. Clarity. Not comfort.

Though to say there was no comfort to be had, would be selling short the experience. Driving in silence, helped to clear my mental state, and gave me the space I needed to actually understand what all I was feeling that day. Each story looking back had a very similar theme about them. From each person who related their tale, I got the sense this activity was very therapeutic. A factor I hadn't ever considered until that point.

It's strange. I hear people talk about how they don't like silence or can't handle it at times, if at all. When I hear that, I'm tempted to ask what it is about silence that scares them so much. The few times I have the responses given pointed to a subconscious fear of being forced to confront themselves.

To face their own thoughts, and feelings, head on like I did on that drive.

Now I ask, when was the last time you sat in total silence?