Welcome to Day 26 of the Wellbeing 9-a-Day blog! Yesterday, I wrote about how I have used The Wellbeing 9-a-Day Journal to incorporate a daily walk as my exercising goal. In today’s blog, I write about my experiences learning how to drive, a tale I affectionately refer to as… Me, Myself, Hyundai.
Driving Myself Crazy
It took me a long time to commit to learning to drive. Between not having the money and not having the need, I only really considered getting lessons when I was 26 or 27.
I finally decided to start when I received money for lessons as a birthday gift.
As I didn’t know any driving instructors, I found a company online and was assigned an instructor. Unfortunately, this was the first of many mistakes I made on my learning journey.
Everything seemed fine to begin with, largely because I didn’t know better and I was too busy gripping the steering wheel, as I stared unblinkingly ahead at the road in front of me. As my lessons continued, I realised the shortcomings of my instructor, whose approach to teaching was to say nothing when things were going well and loudly criticise any mistakes.
For someone who already felt stressed by the process, this method did not help in any way at all, and it became clear that I had chosen a very poor mentor. I began to hope that the lessons would get cancelled, gladly accepting any offer to postpone. Despite my anxieties, I passed my theory test and booked in for my first practical test after 40 lessons.
Hyundai… Will Always Love You Ooo Ooooooo
I failed my first driving test after stalling three times in 30 seconds. Truth be told, it was a blessing, because I was nowhere near ready to drive solo. After going back for more lessons, I booked in for my test again, and promptly failed a second time, this time for two different majors when approaching junctions.
My salvation came when my instructor told me that he had got a different job and was no longer going to be doing lessons. He recommended a friend, a lovely man named John, and I continued my lessons.
John’s approach was much more my style. He was calm, encouraging, and took me on the roads that I would drive on when taking my test, something my first instructor had never done.
Though I was delayed by the restrictions put in place by the pandemic, I booked in for my third test, and I am proud to say I passed!
When you learn something new, it is not that the skill becomes easier; it is that you become more adept and better able to handle it. Though I hated pretty much all my time learning to drive, going through those challenges allowed me to learn a lot about myself, and I have been reaping the rewards ever since.
Of course, like with most things in life, the journey of learning to drive does not end with passing the test. But I will save the next act of the story for the sequel to this blog – Me, Myself, Hyundai 2.
Call to Action!
Think back to something you have struggled to learn in the past. Were you able to overcome the obstacles? If so, how? If not, why did you stop? While there are almost infinite things to learn, the process of moving from not knowing to knowing often follows the same pattern. By reflecting on your learning journeys from the past, you can use what you learned to serve you as you move forward.
This blog was written as part of a 90-day blog writing fundraiser for Live Well with Cancer, a volunteer-led charity serving North Tyneside and the surrounding areas. If you enjoyed this blog, please show your appreciation by donating to my JustGiving page. Every penny raised from donations or sales of the journal will help deliver workshops, events and support groups that empower better health and wellbeing for those affected by cancer, including family, friends, carers, and healthcare workers.
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