Who’s in the driver’s seat?

“I don’t want to be a passenger in my own life.” ~Diane Ackerman

I love driving on the expressway, especially on beautiful summer days. When I’m heading north, for instance, I often recall my childhood vacations. My father always drove on those trips; Mom was a passenger and I had the back seat to myself. I loved watching the landscape change as we escaped the cities and suburbs.

Metaphorically speaking, it’s often easier to let someone else do the driving. Sometimes we just want to sit back, roll down the windows, and enjoy the ride. And there’s nothing wrong with that — unless we’re always dodging responsibility or letting someone else (or something else) control where we’re going.

How often are you in the driver’s seat? Do you rely on others to make plans when you could be asserting your own? Are you driven by old habits or fresh choices? Do you wait or initiate?

Once in a while, it’s worth a reality check: Who’s in the driver’s seat of your own life? ~CL