Driving home from work the other day, I was feeling a little down. Blame it on life and how it had been treating me — it didn’t help that the skies looked unusually cloudy. Shades of gray spread through a blue canvas, farther than my eyes could see.

A cloudy life and an unavoidable drive lurking. It set me thinking, and I realized there was so much to learn from something I deeply enjoy — driving. I may not be the best driver, but I am sure I am good at life, imperfect and unsuccessful sometimes, but good.

So, here’s what I found: life and driving have things in common, and I could learn and unlearn life through something I had been doing as routine for ages, as I often paid no heed to the gems it had to offer.

I need patience sometimes. There is just no other way!

How many times have I found myself stuck in traffic, with absolutely no way out? How many times have I found myself behind a new driver who goofed up in the middle of the road, and left me with no option but to wait till he/she finds a way out and clears up the road?

Losing my temper would not make the traffic clear up sooner, or instill better driving skills in the struggling driver. At times like these, I have no choice but to stay patient and wait — wait for the solution, wait for the way.

So it is with life, when it tests me, and I seem to have no answer. I just have to wait it out, keep calm and know that my journey doesn’t end with an obstacle. Any obstacle is merely a pause and has to end.

Keep my eyes on the road, while also being aware of what’s around.

This should come as no surprise, since it’s the golden rule, rather, the obvious rule of driving.

The same rule applies to life. Keep your eyes on the road, focus on what you want and focus on getting ahead. It is important to look at the rear view mirror once in a while, to see how far I’ve come, but it shouldn’t be the focus of the journey.

I need to look ahead and be aware of the challenges around me, so I don’t end up having a rough ride or rough life either. Self-awareness may take a conscious effort, but it will only make my journey smoother.

Whether on a path to achieve something, or in the simple act of getting through life one day at a time, I must keep focused ahead.

Learn from my mistakes.

When I first started driving, what a nightmare it used to be! Although I still have a love-hate relationship with dents and accidents, I have come to realize that these mistakes have considerably reduced over time.

I am cautious when I’m on the road, making sure I don’t punch another pack on my door, or a loving blow on somebody else’s car.

With years of experience, I certainly do a better job now, and without actually knowing it, I learnt a great deal from my mistakes. Don’t brood over my mistakes, instead and be grateful for all the things life has taught me.

I may be doing everything right, but I’ll still face obstacles, and it’s okay.

I will always find idiots on the road. Sometimes I am the idiot; sometimes someone else is. I have two choices — either to sit and feel bad about how a drive I was so well-prepared for turned out, or how the drive unexpectedly became unpleasant because of some idiot, or deal with it and move on, with the same spirit that I had before I encountered the issue. What matters in the end is that I reach where I intend to go.

Dare

When I first learned how to drive, I found myself scared of the roads, despite having driven for a few months. I’d always end up taking someone along for company, so I wouldn’t end up dying alone, if that were to happen.

One day, however, I decided to change it, and change, I did. I drove all by myself, on the busiest of roads, only because I knew it was my fear that pulled me back, and I had to face it.

So it is with life: I find myself in tricky roads sometimes, and when there’s no other way out, I dare. If I find myself stuck in a state for too long because I’m scared of what lies ahead, I dare!

Take that first step, and miracles will follow. Only if you dare! And Until the next detour.