Driving Force!

Its funny how much one could learn if one is observant. I have always wondered how life could be explained by the process of driving.

Some of us are always in the learning mode. We seem to get better at some parts but most of the times we stumble, use the wrong gear or hit the brakes too late.

Some of us are always the experts. We drive effortlessly through tricky lanes, humming a song and coming face to face with death yet never giving up.

Some of us are the wild ones. We hit the accelerator as soon as the car is ready and never sit to ponder over what is left behind. We love the feel of gush of wind across our faces as we zoom past life. Most of the times the traffic police is chasing us.

Some of us are the cautious ones. We enjoy long drives, drive fast on the highways and have one eye on the speedbreakers and ditches. We manoeuvre ourselves well and enjoy the ride. We hit some lows and land in troubles but we manage just fine.

And then there are some over-cautious ones. We never let loose. We never lose focus of the road. We don’t allow music in the car and high toned chatter is a big no-no. We never like halting in the middle for any small shopping and all we think of is how do we get home.

As I drive my way now, I also see how some of us are ever impatient. We never can stand the sight of a learner, who is making mistakes and honk away to glory. We curse, abuse and yell. We seem to believe everyone has to learn and learn at the first go. Slow learners have no place in this mad traffic, making them believe that they are misfits.

But everytime I watch a 48-year-old lady struggling to watch her balance on the bike, I wish her luck. I know what goes behind that attempt – the courage, the fear and the grit. Every time I see a 30 year old man struggle behind the wheel, fumbling his gears, I smile. He’ll learn, till then he can fumble.

I wish more of us could get that support. To be allowed to fumble till we get it right. And not having that support should actually make us more sensitive to others. We have been there at some point – be it academics, be it work or be it personal relations. We have felt that miserable feeling that we would never learn or worse still we’ll always fail. Then how come we don’t show that empathy to our fellow humans?

All of us pretend to be perfect. Not because we want to be perfect but because no one allows us to be imperfect. No one says 9/10 is good. No one says health is more important than work. No one says its ok to fail.

So the next time you see a learner on the road, let him/her take his/her time. They’ll come around. They’ll figure it out. Because at the next crossroads, they may just do the same for you :)