Conquering My Fears

I have always enjoyed traveling. I didn't get my driver's license until I was 21. Within a few weeks of getting my license, I made a trip from Savannah, Georgia to Columbiana, Ohio, and back. Over the years I made many long trips.

For some reason, after I had my last child, I developed a phobia of driving. My car had been having problems, and I didn't trust it. I knew it was a phobia I had though, because I was afraid to drive my father's car and my sister's car, too. I knew I had a problem that I needed to combat.

Each day I tried to make myself drive a little more, and a little faster (at least up to the speed limit). Finally, I was able to tackle it. I was back to driving the way I was supposed to.

The real test came when I decided to move back to Ohio from Louisiana. I realized I never made a long trip with my children, and no other adults. I rented a U-Haul, buckled my two kids in one seat (which I know I shouldn't have done, but didn't have too many options) and put my baby in the car seat in the other seat. We then headed off in a 14-foot truck, pulling my car on a trailer behind us.

The trip was relatively smooth. I had difficulty driving at night. If I was in my car, it would have been easier. If any of you have driven a U-Haul, you know what I mean. It's just more difficult to judge where you are. If my night vision was better, it might not have been as bad. So, anyway, we stayed at my mother's in Mississippi the first night, then a stopped at a motel the next two nights.

The first night I pulled into the motel, I pulled in the wrong way and there was no outlet. I remember being told I couldn't back the truck up with the trailer on it. Whoever told me that was right. I just parked the truck and went to bed. I figured I'd deal with it in the morning. Luckily the next day, some wonderful employee knew some wonderful person who was able to get me out of the mess. He backed up the truck like an expert, and when I tried to give him money, he didn't take it.

So, I learned my lesson, and put in the back of my mind that I would be careful the next time. Well, I thought I was when I was pulling in to the motel the next night, but I wasn't. I pulled in to a construction zone. But once again, I ran in to a couple nice men who happened to work there, and one of the men helped me out of the situation. My children and I got situated, and off we went the next day.

I really didn't realize what a long state Ohio was. It seemed like it was even longer when there were miles and miles of road construction, where brick walls were on either one side of me or both. I was especially nervous, because I opted out of the insurance for lack of funds. But, I gritted my teeth, and held the steering wheel tight, and remembered some good advice my ex-husband gave me when I learned to drive, "Don't let the vehicle control you, you control the vehicle." I repeated the phrase over and over in my head, and it worked. I made it to Ohio without a major catastrophe, and I knew I had conquered my fears.

Learn more about this author, Tamara B.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Is there anything that you have accomplished and that you are really proud of??
We want to hear your view. Write now!