My trip to Utah was already going to start different this time around compared to the past—
Instead of my usual route, I was going to stop in LA first to drop off my tigers for the upcoming Odd Folk & Fables show, and then make my way east to Utah.

It was so lovely to briefly catch up with Cassia and Eric at Giant Robot, and by the time I was ready to start my trip out of LA, it was rush hour traffic time! I was mentally preparing myself for bumper-to-bumper freeway traffic as I set up my GPS. But as I started following the directions, I realised I was nowhere near the freeway entrances. I kept turning left and right, street after street, and had zero idea as to where I was going.

I was completely at the mercy of my GPS.

I was starting to get frustrated because I didn't want to zig-zag through the streets of LA like a mouse in a maze. I wanted to be on the freeway. Even if it would've been absolutely maddening sitting in traffic, at least the freeway was a more familiar and comfortable path for me.

But then I decided to change my perspective.
I started thinking to myself about how much of a treat it was that I got to see different parts of LA.
Instead of asphalt and the bumper of the same car for hours, I got the opportunity to see a small glimpse of day-to-day life in parts of LA. I also got to venture briefly into Koreatown and it made me a little homesick for Korea as I was suddenly surrounded by Korean billboards and business signs.

Finally reaching a freeway entrance, I was once again mentally bracing for time in traffic.
But my GPS surprised me and took me on a rather nice (and uncrowded) route through the Angeles National Forest. It felt like a nice reward from the Universe for changing my perspective and being a little uncomfortable for a moment by taking a totally different path traveled.
As I was driving the winding road, I decided to do something I would think about doing but never actual did—until now. I took a moment to stop in a lookout area and take in the view.

Had I just stuck to the familiar—albeit frustrating—path that is taking the freeway, I never would've gotten the opportunity to see not only other parts of LA, but also some of the beautiful, wild lands of the Los Angeles area.

This was definitely much better than sitting in traffic on a freeway.