Every Traveler Needs a Copilot

co-pi-let•noun: a pilot who helps the main pilot operate an airplane, helicopter, ect.

Siri as Copilot

“I think you missed the exit,” I said, as we flew down the highway. Sure enough, a second later Siri went through her ‘recalculating route’ routine. Pedro looked at me and grimaced. Even though Siri had plotted a route and given verbal cues at each stage of the game, he hadn’t tuned in to her promptings.

Which goes to show that we can easily tune out the systems and people we have set up to provide support for us. Pedro and I have taken road trips together for 31 years—and Siri has only accompanied us for the past five years. Evidently, he still relies on me as copilot! Unfortunately, I had my nose buried in a book.

On our journey to wholeness, it helps to have a copilot or two. We could all learn a lesson from Siri as copilot, though. First of all, when we miss an exit, she doesn’t exhort us with negative phrases such as, “What?! You missed that exit? Didn’t you HEAR me?” She simply states a fact, “Route recalculating.”

Siri never judges us on the route we choose. She gives us options such as taking toll roads, or different routes to the same destination. The updated version of the Apple iOS also provides local speed limit data and important stops along the route (such as gas stations and coffee shops).

One caveat to Siri as copilot, she doesn’t reveal how rough the road might turn out! I learned this the hard way. With a bus full of students. Pulling a trailer.

Tips for Finding a Copilot

1. YOU choose the destination. You have to set the goal, whether you choose to lose weight, improve your fitness, or get more sleep, no one else can set it for you.

2. Don’t berate yourself for not arriving at your destination before your journey ends. No one wants to act as copilot with a driver who keeps hitting the steering wheel and complaining because they haven’t arrived yet.

3. YOU choose the technology. Some drivers prefer old-fashioned road maps, and others depend on their GPS. Find someone to copilot your journey who shares your route-finding style.

4. Remember that your copilot will journey WITH you, not FOR you. You want to invite someone along to keep you on track and cheer you on. Don’t expect them to do the driving. You want a copilot, not a nag (and who wants to nag, anyway?).

5. Choose between the known or the unknown—or maybe both. Maybe you don’t feel ready to share your big goal (or even small goal) with family members or friends. Find an online community instead. Try SparkPeople.com, or the FitBit community for inspiration and guidance. Perhaps your local church has people who are just waiting for someone to start a small exercise group. Sara from The Holy Mess offers a Faithful Finish Lines group (small fee) that helps members set goals and stay on track.

Remember that you sit in the driver’s seat on your journey to physical health. No one else can do the work or make the decisions. Choose a copilot or two, and embark on a journey to physical wholeness!

Tomorrow I’ll share some bare bones accountability tools to help you on your journey.

Nurture Yourself Takeaway #21—Find a copilot who’s willing to take on the role of cheerleader and gentle route reminder. It will make all the difference in your journey to physical wholeness.