When Everyone Says You Can't: How to Prove Them Wrong
You're the hero of this story
It took everything in me not to kiss my driving test examiner.
Three years after starting the process, I finally became a fully licensed driver last year.
I didn’t have the financial support or backing to learn as a teenager like most drivers do. I also carried a lot of trauma that led me to gaslight myself into believing I wasn’t smart enough to drive.
But publishing my memoir released years of resistance and connected me more authentically to the concept of if not now, then when?
This mantra applied to many areas of my life, and although I’m still striving to catch up on years of lost life experiences that most people could never fathom, one of those things was driving.
I was finally in a place where I had the wherewithal to start learning. Nothing was stopping me but fear—and fear has never been a reason to stop. So, now was the time to go for it. If not now, then when?
It was far from easy. At times, it felt like climbing Mount Everest.
Owing to the two-step licensing process in my region, it took three years, six driving instructors, and thousands of dollars.
It took perseverance in the face of inevitable mishaps and near collisions.
I pushed through even when I discovered how callous people can be when it comes to driving.
I was shocked by the lack of support and empathy from people who had the privilege of learning to drive when they were kids and took for granted that not everyone had the means to do so.
I was made fun of.
I was told that I was stupid.
I’ve been told that I’m lazy.
I was told that driving is easy so my challenges were incomprehensible.
I was told by friends that they would never let me drive their car.
If I'd allowed myself to fully feel how much these barbs hurt, I never would have continued.
I remember coming home from many a driving lesson with my self-esteem in shreds after being screamed at by impatient instructors who called me stupid. It would take hours—days even—to regulate my nervous system afterward. During those days, I’d repeat to myself, “You’re so stupid, stupid, stupid...”
Honestly, I consider it a miracle that I got my license.
I’ll never forget the feeling after my final driving exam when I heard the words, “You passed.” I still draw on that memory when I’m feeling low, just so I can feel the joy surge through me like a hit of pure dopamine.
I’m not a great driver by any means. But I believe that with practice and support, I’ll get better.
If I can learn to drive, you can do anything.
The truth is, that thing you’ve always wanted to do cannot be achieved without intention, commitment, and perseverance.
That goes for everything—from climbing a mountain to telling a story.
If you have a story you’ve been dreaming of telling, you’re ready to dig deep, and you need the guidance to move from idea to manuscript, I can help.
I offer one-on-one coaching for writers who are ready to stop procrastinating and create a manuscript. I work with one writer at a time in a highly customized, supportive setting. Together, we’ll create a personalized plan to bring your story to life.
If that sounds like what you need, the first step is to book a free discovery call with me. We’ll talk about where you are, where you want to go, and how I can help you get there.
Because if not now, then when?