This weekend I took a trip up to Minneapolis, to visit my brother and some friends from college. I’ve made this trip 5-10 times a year for the last nine years; I could probably drive it with my eyes closed. I can tell you where the nicest rest stops and gas stations are, what kind of trail mix they sell at the Kwik Trip in Tomah, and which billboards have changed since my last trip up.

Needless to say, I am usually bored out of my mind, staying awake only by constantly scanning the radio for songs I can sing along with and drinking coffee. All I can think about is getting there, and what we’re going to do when I arrive. I’m totally focused on what is happening later, and that makes the current moments pass So. Much. Slower.

But my experience this time was different. This is in part due to the fact that I finally discovered the wonder that is NPR. Every hour they have a different topic that is (usually) interesting and stimulating. I found myself surprised that a whole hour had gone by when the program I was listening to (“I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti”) suddenly ended.

I got to Minneapolis in what felt like no time at all. If it weren’t for the stiffness in my legs, I’d swear I’d only driven an hour or so instead of the 4.5 it takes to get to St. Paul from Madison.

I thought it was just the discovery of good radio, but the rest of my weekend was a totally different experience than usual, too. As always, the weekend was crammed full of people to see and meals out during which to see them all. It was, in fact, busier than my usual visit weekends, because my reason for visiting was to attend a wedding shower for friends from Madison, so there were extra events thrown in.

In the past, this has always meant feeling like I barely got to spend any time with anyone. I’m a mixture of elated to see them and sad that I don’t get to do so more often, and by the end of the weekend I’m exhausted. But this time was just different.

I was fully present in almost every moment. Whoever I was with, whatever we were doing, I just enjoyed it. I had occasional moments of awareness when I would realize I’d just spent the whole conversation focused on the friends I was with, rather than thinking about who I was off to see next, or worse, flashing back on things that had happened with this friend or in this place in the past. Minneapolis is a great city, but I had some rough times in college, emotionally. And being there sometimes stirs up those old feelings of anxiety. This time it just didn’t.

So my trip was wonderful. Not only did I see more people than I usually do, but I felt like the quality of the time we spent together was better. I felt like I really connected and enjoyed and was present with them.

I think the change in my experience can be attributed to Ascension.

The difference, at the heart of it, was that I was not being pulled around by emotions from the past, present, or future. I wasn’t thinking back on old anxieties, I wasn’t feeling sad that I don’t live there anymore and can’t see these friends all the time, and I wasn’t worrying about what I’d be doing next. I was just experiencing what was happening right in that moment.

This kind of disconnection from uncontrollable thoughts and emotions is one of the many effects that Ascension can have. By Ascending, I’ve cleared a lot of the old stresses out, so they don’t come up as often or as easily. I feel like I can trust myself more, so making plans and getting places wasn’t a concern. But most importantly, I can focus on where I am, and quiet the other thoughts so I can be fully present.

I would hazard to say these things are probably true in my day-to-day life, though I don’t notice it as much because the changes are so subtle. But being pulled out of my normal routine and going into an event that only happens a few times a year really highlighted how different our experiences can be when we change our inner landscape.