The Time We Didn’t Miss the Exit
Something happens to my husband when I’m in the car with him. It’s like he can’t hear the directions from Waze unless I give them to him. Like it’s in a different language and I’m the translator.
This is not just since we moved to New Jersey. This was true in Los Angeles as well and every single time he would miss a turn because I stopped paying attention, I would say the same thing to him: “You literally drive ALL OVER Los Angeles for meetings every single day. And I’m not with you. HOW DO YOU SURVIVE???”
This is not a big deal.
But it drives me BANANAS that if I stop paying attention at the wrong time, we miss our exit or our turn. I can NOT understand why I have to be the Waze translator. And I get so irritated. Every. Single. Time.
Until Sunday.
Sunday, I decided to try doing something different.
Instead of expecting him to be different, I decided to practice something I’m working on right now: patience. (This is NOT my strong suit.)
We were driving an hour away to Matt’s brother’s and we have no idea how to get anywhere around here yet except within a 10 mile radius (and even then it’s iffy). So I knew he would have no idea where he was going and would need Waze - and my translation.
I decided I would put away my phone for that hour and simply be the Waze translator. I’m sure what happened will come as no surprise. No wrong turns, no missed exits. It was a delightful drive and we got there with zero issue. And that includes zero annoyance or frustration from me.
I WAS RESPONSIBLE for shifting my annoyance and frustration. Not him. And it worked. I wasn’t annoyed that I couldn’t look at my phone. In fact, it was actually nice to just be his co-pilot.
I answered my own question that I ask my clients all the time: What’s YOUR responsibility in this?
We almost ALWAYS have a responsibility in how our lives are going. Ask that question more often and see what happens when you change your perspective, when you decide to make a change in how YOU show up. And when you notice something different, send me a message and tell me about it!