In The Driver’s Seat

Dear lovely people,

 

One important question we should keep asking ourselves: is there a gap between who you want to be and who you are? It’s one thing to have goals that stretch you beyond where you are now, but it’s another to feel like the life that you are living, the way you are spending your time and your energy, isn’t quite focused in the way you really want it to be.

Before I became a driver, driving always looked so intimidating to me from the passenger's seat but once I got behind the wheel and gently put my foot on the pedal, the process became very intuitive. Of all the driving styles, defensive driving appealed to me most especially as it embodied several different concepts, I quickly learned:

•  Never to assume that people will follow the rules, or pay attention. Often those rules are broken by clueless drivers. Don't assume that drivers will use their blinkers before they turn, for example.

• That if you see a potentially dangerous situation, avoid it before it happens. Don't try to pass a drunk driver who's swerving in and out of lanes.

• To use all your senses to be aware, at all times, of what's happening on the road. Don't get too complacent behind the wheel. Use sight to monitor other cars' speeds and their habits.

 The same precepts apply when it comes to chasing your dreams. “Even when opportunity knocks a man still has to get up off his seat and open the door.” Says an unknown author. You don’t just wake up one morning and hit the road with hard work just because you have dreams to realize. Once behind the wheel heading for success, engage your defensive driving skills.

From joblessness, lost opportunities, break-ups and family fall-outs to career stalls and unexpected losses, life is filled with events and circumstances that can knock you off your feet and leave you feeling stressed, confused and lost. Whether you’re embarking on a new career, restarting from scratch or going for a degree at age 52, don’t get lost while in the driver’s seat, fully engage your defensive driving skills and will give you the strategies to help you map out your life direction, leading you to the life you truly want.