Driving invigorates the soul

Do any of you love to drive as much as I do? I'm not talking about fast cars at the racetrack. I mean just simple daily driving.

Our culture does not only have a love affair with cars that seems to keep growing, but we also have a passion for driving them. Why? Many factors contribute to the giddiness that many of us get when sliding behind the wheel of our rides.

Contrary to the perils of your morning commute, driving can actually be a tremendous stress reliever.

Who doesn't enjoy cruising along, listening to great tunes and zoning out while clearing their head? It's incredibly liberating to navigate the roads and just let your brain unwind. There are days, many of them, actually, where I feel overwhelmed and immediately grab for my keys. Heading out for a drive, while listening to my favorite song (on repeat), and suddenly everything is clear and peaceful. Even inspirational. A good drive helps me focus on what I have to do for the day.

Driving also represents the ultimate form of freedom, short of a spaceship or supersonic jet. Driving is reassurance that we can get away from it all in a big hurry and that we have some control over our lives.

We can hop into our beloved vehicle, go wherever we want, with or without friends. In many other countries, this is a luxury, so I don't take this particular freedom lightly. It's something that I will never cease to appreciate. What an intense joy that is, which makes me wonder about people who routinely say that a car is just transportation.

Maybe you are the parent who enjoys taking a little time to escape hectic home life by jumping into your car for a while. Or maybe you are the banker or doctor who gets to spend some time away from the chaotic office during lunch to free your mind and come back more refreshed for the day.

Consider the student living in a busy dorm who has a day filled with classes and tests. It's liberating to go for a rejuvenating spin. Driving is almost like a form of meditation, only hopefully we're all keeping our eyes open in the process.

Many people -- including me -- simply enjoy the pure physics of driving and the resulting adrenaline rush. The acceleration and horsepower, especially when it's a really big number, provide us with an incredible surge.

Just as some enjoy amusement parks and roller coasters or surfing giant waves, people get a thrill out of feeling the power a vehicle puts out, as well as its ability to maneuver winding roads.

That's not strictly the domain of men. An increasing number of women tell me how much they love to drive.

Forty years ago, it was unusual to see a woman as the driver when she was in a relationship with a man. Now it's common, thankfully, to see a woman at the wheel. I have always said I need my man to be a great driver, although I want the guy in my life to know his way around a car and be decent behind the wheel, I think I have come to realize that I am so passionate about driving that it doesn't really make a difference.

Whenever I'm with friends I'm usually the one who opts to chauffeur the group. I'm happy to spend as much time as possible in the driver's seat, as it's hardly a chore.

Does the car we drive say something about who we are and what we like? Of course, since it grants us the freedom of expression. We choose the cars and trucks that most reflect our own personal styles.

Driving then becomes a way of showing the world who we are. This probably has more merit when the vehicle is somehow special to us because then the pride is obvious.

Whenever I pull up next to or see somebody driving a unique vehicle -- whether customized or old or new -- the driver usually looks happy just to be alive.

And the same obviously goes for modern rides. My modified Thunderbird is reflective of who I am, and that makes driving it all the more fun. That reminds me ... I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed right now. Where are my keys?

Why do you love to drive? Send me your thoughts for publication.

Among her numerous accomplishments, Courtney Hansen is the author of "Garage Girl's Guide to Everything You Need to Know About Your Car," the host of Spike TV's "Power Block," the former host of TLC's "Overhaulin'" program and a writer with Wheelbase Media and Auto Shift Weekly magazine. You can email her by logging on to www.wheelbase.ws and using the contact link.