As the saying goes, it's the simple things in life you treasure. Whether it's the taste of your favourite home-cooked meal or catching your spouse gazing at you across the table, seemingly trivial moments are often the ones we live for.

Each of us has hopes and dreams, and achieving these goals brings an overwhelming sense of joy. Yet even exciting milestones such as buying your first house have a way of dissolving into routine monotony by the time the third coat of paint is drying and you're left searching through boxes to find your pillow. As the gleam of the grandiose tarnishes and we turn our thoughts toward the next goal, it's the sound of children playing happily outside or the hues of the sunset after hours of unpacking that capture our affections, again.

As gleefully as we bask in the positive moments, the reverse is also true: simple disappointments and frustrations often grate on us with dramatic disproportion.

Most people don't think much about their commute – it's just that unavoidable half hour stuck in traffic before starting the workday. However, something as seemingly insignificant as being given the finger or being cut off in traffic will make most people angry enough to ruin the better part of their morning.

Recently, Spacing magazine published a comprehensive study on the social impacts of various methods of commuting. They developed a Vancouver “Cost of Commute Calculator” aimed at calculating “the full cost and benefit of driving, taking the bus, cycling and walking” in that city. The calculator takes into account the costs of building the infrastructure and operating and maintaining buses, private vehicles or bicycles. It includes environmental concerns, road congestion, the risk of accidents, the health benefits of exercise and even the time invested in the commute.

The study provided some fascinating insights into the hidden costs our choices have, both on ourselves and on society. However, it didn't factor in the potential effect each method of travel can have on a person's spiritual and emotional well-being. As far as I can tell, no one has undertaken such a study and, to be fair, it would be a difficult challenge. Many of the factors that influence us can be highly subjective.

Still, in the absence of such an all-encompassing study, there are studies, anecdotal evidence and data that provide clues to how our commuting decisions affect us.

According to Statistics Canada's 2011 National Household Survey (NHS), the average Canadian commuter takes more than 25 minutes to get to work. In Toronto, average times were about 30 per cent higher. When you include the commute home, that adds up to almost five hours of travel time a week for each of the 15.4 million Canadians who regularly commute. That's a substantial amount of time that may be affecting us emotionally and spiritually without us even knowing it.

Although there aren't studies specifically exploring the potential spiritual impacts of a commute, there are countless blogs with tips on how to optimize your time. Ottawa blogger Stephen Rolston (www. resourcefreak.com) encourages people to “convert [their] driving and commuting time into a rolling university” by listening to audiobooks and teachings that build character and faith or teach life skills. Through his blog, Rolston provides weekly reviews of resources he has read and found insightful.

An article published by the Institute for Faith, Works and Economics also encourages readers to make the most of their commute. In addition to listening to sermons or other teaching material, they suggest using the time to memorize scripture, sing worship songs (although they probably wouldn't recommend that for those who ride the bus) and establishing a prayer routine.

Shortly after I got married, I started biking to work. My route was primarily along busy roads. Once, I actually got clipped by an inattentive driver. After a few months, I realized that most days, I spent my ride angry with the drivers around me. My bitterness even crept into the rest of my day as I vented about “terrible drivers” to anyone who would listen. My bad attitude during the morning ride was habit forming.

Part way through the year, I realized my commute was negatively impacting not only my attitude but also my witness as a believer. I decided the best solution was to pray God's blessing on all the drivers who angered me. Before long, my ride was training me in the fruit of the spirit. I gave drivers grace without thinking about it and spent the whole trip in worship and prayer.

What encouraged me the most, though, was what happened the following spring. I stopped riding during the winter, but when I pulled my bike out in April, I surprised myself. Only a few minutes into my ride, I unknowingly defaulted into thanking God for the beauty of creation.

Although its impact is often overlooked, the route you choose for your commute also factors significantly. Numerous studies show that spending time in creation is profoundly beneficial and directly connected to increased happiness and health.

In 2011, Carleton University professor John Zelenski took volunteers on 10-minute walks along a canal in a park and through a tunnel system at the university. In an interview with Ottawa Outdoors, he said, “Obviously weather makes a difference, as well as other things, but we saw significant mood improvements when people were outdoors. Spending time outdoors helps relaxation and restores attentional resources. Studies conducted in the projects of Chicago suggest that living near green space eases symptoms of ADHD. Other studies show even the sight of trees or water contributes to job satisfaction and suggest people living near green space live longer. The impact of nature goes beyond just removing stress. It actually creates something positive.”

Zelenski also notes that “people who exercise outdoors are [positively] impacted slightly more than those just sitting.”

These studies would, therefore, suggest that commuting by subway, along fenced highways or through urban areas are more likely to add stress. Conversely, commuting through forested areas or along a river, especially by walking or cycling, will significantly improve your mood for the day.

The long-term impact of starting your day on a positive note is that you will be more content and probably, overall, more kind, gracious and thankful.

We also know, from the plethora of ongoing studies, that regular exercise offers similar benefits. It is surprising, therefore, that more people don't choose to include exercise in their commute. The 2011 NHS found that 80 per cent of Canadian commuters rode in a private vehicle. Fewer than six per cent walked to work, and only one per cent cycled.

While the Cost of Commute Calculator did factor in the benefit from increased life expectancy gained by exercising during your commute, it neglected the emotional and self-image benefits.

Last year, my family bought a house in the suburbs near where my parents live. Although it was much farther, I decided to continue biking to work and even convinced my father, 62, to join me. Almost every day, we met at a nearby intersection and rode the 25 kilometres to our downtown offices. After work, we met on the bike path and rode home.

Riding together was incredibly uplifting. We talked about all kinds of things as we rode through forests and along a river, and the conversation continually turned back to God, what we were studying in scripture and how we felt Him working in our lives.

These conversations, no doubt, had a deep impact on our moods as well as our relationship and spiritual growth, but there was another unintended benefit, which my dad expressed best.

His office struggles with chronic low morale. Few people in the office enjoy each other's company and there is a lot of backbiting that goes on. One afternoon, shortly after we started riding together, my dad called me and said, “Craig, this is amazing! I'm getting so many endorphins from our ride to work, it's almost like I'm on drugs. I've noticed by about two o'clock it has worn off and I start getting discouraged again. But then I realize, in less than two hours, I'll be on my bike going home.”

When winter came and we put our bikes away, my dad again struggled to face the issues in his office. His commute no longer helped him de-stress and he noticed a marked difference in how well he performed in his hobbies, which require good hand-eye coordination. By March, he was counting the days until he could jump on his bike again.

The transformation my family witnessed in my dad's demeanour was unmistakable. He had a new goal: to bike 1,500 kilometres that year. (He ended up more than doubling that.) He was less stressed at work, more happy when he got home and was in great physical shape.

Who would have thought simply changing how you commute, or how you spend that time, would make such a difference. Only God knows the impact such seemingly trivial choices will have over the course of days and weeks. There may not be current studies exploring this, but it's something to consider next time you're taking the scenic route. You may just find yourself unintentionally happy.