I was fortunate to do some training driving a full sized bus. At first, the sheer size of the thing can be a little overwhelming and because buses have the front wheels behind the driver and a big arse at the end, you have to learn how to turn correctly and it is waaaay different to a car.
Out on the road you have unpredictable and often impatient drivers to contend with. Sometimes there are obstacles like poorly parked cars, there is heavy traffic and some pretty difficult people to deal with. Then, there is time pressure, sudden changes you didn't expect, unexpected delays...
Its a bit like navigating life really. You can be travelling along when all of a sudden you have to make a wide turn at an intersection which is narrow and that means you have to use part or even all of the other lane. Similarly, in life, we sometimes have to make a turn that can feel very uncomfortable. Instead of staying in our own lane, we may have to venture temporarily into the oncoming one for a little bit. The key with both is to slow down, keep yourself and others safe and keep a good eye on your surroundings.
Life equips all of us with mirrors and sometimes we get too focused on them. Or we might look too far back and forget our recent good surroundings. Buses have a wide view mirror on each side as well as a normal mirror. They both have their uses. When life applies a kick to our collective cobblers (sorry girls, improvise here), we often find ourselves shocked and focused on the distorted image at the bottom. Then when we try to judge a reverse turn, it goes pear-shaped and we don't know why! Gotta use the right tool for the job - the mirror with the clear view, compare with the wide and make a judgement. When we look back at the past after dealing with trauma its like looking exclusively in the wide view mirror where things are not always as they appear. In life, this wide distorted view is like our perceptions after trauma. Capiche?
When life gets hard, get in your "bus" and calmly check your instruments are all working first. Make sure everything is safe and in good working order before you start your run. As long as you know your route, know how to maneuvre and adjust when things don't go to plan, then you'll reach the end of your route and end up back at the depot, job done. Confidence comes from having that certainty first and following the basics, keeping it simple and steady...Eddy.
And then "the wheels on the bus go..."☺️
