Motivational Article

Let's look at how the first group sees life from the passenger's seat .

First of all, someone else is driving. It might be parents, a spouse, or some more distant person (a boss, a spiritual figure, a political leader, or a celebrity icon). It could even be a physician or therapist, or a lawyer or accountant. The driver may change occasionally (or frequently) as a result of different events. But it's always someone else behind the steering wheel who has control of the car and the destination.

Passengers let other people drive for different reasons:

•  they don't have a map and are afraid of getting lost
•  they don't know how to operate the vehicle
•  they don't understand the rules of the road
•  they are afraid of getting into an accident
•  they just want to enjoy the ride without having to make any decisions.

Passengers spend the entire trip looking out the side window, watching the world go by. They may witness other accidents by the roadside, but they are safe and protected inside their vehicle. They see signs along the way—indicators of where they are, how far away they are from somewhere else, how fast they should be going—but they can ignore them because they have no control over any of those things. Neither do they have to assume any responsibility for hitting a pot hole, taking a wrong turn or changing a flat tire.

Since there is nothing really to do, they usually get bored. Some fall asleep, until the driver stops at the next gas station. Some turn on the radio to drown out the drone of the engine—they escape the only way they can from within the confines of the vehicle. Some continually whine, “Are we there yet?”

Many miles down the road, sometimes at the very end of the journey, it dawns on them: “This isn't where I wanted to go. Damn, why didn't I drive?”

Driver's wanted™

So, if you never bothered to get your license, it's about time you did.

Tell your driver to pull over. Tell him or her to switch places or walk home. (Probably s/he will be happy to relinquish the wheel and get out and stretch!)

From the driver's seat , you'll see the road directly ahead of you. You can't spend the trip gazing out the side window anymore or you'll end up in the ditch. You can only glance in the rear view mirror—most of your focus must be on what's in front of you, rather than what's behind.

You can see those potholes on the road and steer clear of them. You can see those destination signs and decide which exits to take. You get to decide when and where to fill the tank. You can take the highway or the back roads. What freedom!

You may or may not have a navigator with you. But, whether you're on the road alone or have company, you have the freedom to go wherever you want. No matter who is sitting in the seat next to you, or how many people are in the back seat, the person behind the wheel calls the shots. What power!

It won't always be a Sunday drive: some roads are bumpier than others; you can't control bad weather; and you may get a flat tire. You may end up on a dead end street and have difficulty getting turned around. Some people will pass you and others will try and cut you off.

You may have to consult the owner's manual from time to time, and you will have to keep your vehicle tuned up with regular service and maintenance. Insurance doesn't always cover you and warranties are limited.

You can't control other drivers on the road, and traffic jams are inevitable. The best you can do to make it an amazing trip is just that: your best. Despite the risks and responsibilities, driving is definitely more fun than being chauffeured.

You may not know exactly where you want to go, or even if you're heading the right way, but that's okay. You can always stop and ask for directions along the way (even if you're a man.) Instead of asking, “Are we there yet?” try “Where to next?”

Bon Voyage!