Clearly not all of us saw the sign (Caution, Speed Bumps ahead) when we started driving down the road to recovery. We are all anxious to get moving.
What we really need to do as we start this new journey is to approach this by taking a page out of our personal history. It is really like buying a car, the “old school” way.
- First came the test drives – Some of you might remember that first drive off the lot and the paranoia that goes with the fear of damaging something that expensive, that you are not familiar with, you don’t own and you may not even like. All the while with a stranger riding next to you as a witness to all that you might be doing wrong. You must do quite a few test drives before you find the car that fits your needs.
- Negotiate – once you have passed through the stressful test drive stage then you had to negotiate the desired outcome for the vehicle. By that I mean, assess the value of the vehicle: what you like, dislike, value and find as optional. Then determine what price you are willing to pay, warts and all.
- Drive it off the lot after you buy it – this is a different stage of paranoia. Now you have paid the price and defined the long-term investment and cannot afford to wreck it.
- Finally, you get used to the ride – the car eventually becomes your new normal. You know how to expect it to behave and you know how you behave when driving. You know how fast you can take those speed bumps without bottoming out or breaking an axel. You know the vehicle reacts and you drive accordingly, even if it is not the speed you want.
We have all been given the keys to the car when it comes to heading down the road to recovery. Let us keep this in mind…Like my father before me said to me and I have said to my kids, “Sure, here’s the keys to the car, don’t wreck it!”
Stay Safe…Stay Healthy