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SNEAKER: DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY
(Life is a highway, now get on it!) Submitted by Marianne H. SO HERE’S THE DEAL… I cannot, under any circumstances, no matter how much in a hurry I am, drive on the freeway or highway. It always seems to me that everyone driving behind me is chasing me. To catch me. For what reason? Can’t figure that out. It just feels that I have to drive faster and faster to get away from the other drivers. It gets worse. I have no patience with people who don’t drive well – or, at least, don’t obey the law. So as I am driving to get away from the people who are chasing me, and am already anxious, I get mad when drivers change lanes without signaling, drive while talking on the phone, cut me off to make turns while honking angrily – you get the idea. Somehow, when driving on streets, with everyone in slower motion, I can deal with the thoughtlessness of others, since the resulting danger would be easier to avoid. And the stop and go traffic makes the whole process more human. Hard to feel that someone is chasing me when they are driving 35 miles an hour, and stop and go to get there. THE MOMENT OF TRUTH… I cannot spend my life taking an hour to get to my destination which is, in reality, only minutes away. It is inconvenient. It is silly. And it is becoming increasingly difficult to explain to others why I have to leave so early to get someplace, or why, when I drive a friend somewhere, I can’t take the highway. I am not a child. But I feel like one when it comes to living in a world where it is nearly impossible not to, at some time during the day, drive on a highway, and I can’t do it. I resolve to do it. My methodology seems so obvious to me – get on the freeway, and just drive to the next exit, and then get off. Do that several times. Then drive past and exit at the second exit. Get off. And I decide that at the same time I am driving, I will listen to my favorite, most soothing music , a song I love more than any other, a piece which makes me smile and gives me peace. And I promise myself that I will make up stories for the other drivers, ones which do not include car chasing, but rather personal voyages which make sense to me. DRUMROLL PLEASE… Am getting into the driver’s seat. Seatbelt on. CD goes in – the song: Judy Garland (or Katherine McPhee) singing “Somewhere over The Rainbow”. Breathe. OK. Breathing. Start the car. Drive to the freeway entrance. I pull over. Breathing again. Judy is singing, “Bluebirds can fly.” Yup, I think, so can I. I get on the onramp. Push on the gas pedal, harder and harder. Make it up the ramp to 45, then 50. Signal as I get into the left lane. Am up to 60. I see the cars behind me. “Nope”, I tell myself “. That lady is not chasing me. She has a baby in an infant seat, so she is taking that baby to music class. She is no hurry. She is just intent on getting there. Safely. She moves up alongside me, and as I glance at her, she is singing, probably to her baby. As she passes me, she signals. OK. Good. I can do this. I get off at the next exit, as she does, and pull over. That was not so bad. I decide to get on again, this very minute, and try for two exits. Getting on. Getting up to 60 faster this time. Judy is singing, “Bluebirds fly over the rainbow, why, then oh why, can’t I?” I answer Judy – ” I can. Watch me.” I am now doing 65. Cars are still passing me (that man with the cap over his eyes – he is on his way to a baseball game, I am sure, and he is hoping to catch a fly ball), but I don’t care. They are not chasing me – I seem to be chasing them. Instead of watching them for signs of hostility, I see people rushing to get home. I see blue skies. I change lanes (signaling of course) realizing that here I am, 31, and this is the first time I have actually changed lanes at 65 miles an hour. And I am fine. Smiling, actually. I pass others, and some still pass me. But my hands are not clenched, and my heart is not pounding. Am I thrilled? Not quite. I signal, as I change lanes again, and get off at this exit. I see I drove past 4 exits. And Judy is, so appropriately, singing, “Dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true.” OK. I guess you can say my sneakers are scuffed. Not filthy, but scuffed, nevertheless. First step – a big one for me. Next time, I am actually going to make it to the beach. Ten Exits. No problem.
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SNEAKER: Establish expertise in my area of interest…
Submitted by Ariel R. GOAL: Establish expertise in my area of interest by continually demonstrating (and gaining!) knowledge EXPLANATION: I avoid doing this at home, at work, at conferences, at social gatherings. I lose sight of the point, and thereby my motivation. I lose sight of the bigger picture and get mired in day to day tasks. I lack confidence in my knowledge. I am naturally introverted. MY SNEAKER LIST: 1. Spend at least 15 minutes a day reading news and blogs 2. Spend at least 10 minutes a day talking to someone I don’t usually talk to 3. Write a blog post 4. Go to a show 5. Go to a lecture 6. Go to a meetup 7. Read an essay 8. Complete a new solo work 9. Complete a new work with coworkers 10. Obtain a speaking engagement 11. Submit to a festival  Congratulations on choosing to participate in The Sneaker Experiment©!
Everyone is at their own step in their readiness to take that first step, and that’s totally fine! If you’re just here to read other people’s Sneaker experiences, that’s okay! You’ll join us on your own journey outside of your comfort zone when you’re ready. You may be ready to create your own list today. Great! Please share it with me and I’ll share it with the rest of our readers so that they can give you support on your journey and possibly get inspired to create some list items of their own! Today might be the day where you actually take that first step toward conquering one of your Sneakers! If so, congratulations! I know it sounds trite, but it really is the hardest part. Please tell us what happened when you tried that first item on your list! You might be a veteran of the Sneaker Club who has conquered and perhaps shared many of your own Sneakers. If so, welcome back and thank you for sharing! Whoever you are, I’m so happy to have you here! Now, let’s get our Sneakers dirty! WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE SNEAKER EXPERIMENT© BLOG? This is not an advice blog, nor is it a blog that is all about me and my thoughts about life. The purpose of this blog is to connect a community of people who are all taking part in The Sneaker Experiment©, and who will benefit from reading about each other’s experiences while participating or preparing to participate in this movement. It is a home to return to again and again as we continue to blaze through our own personal Sneaker Lists. |
Welcome to The Sneaker ExperimentMy name is Lisa, and I've set up this site as part of my mission to build a community of people who want to push themselves to do things they normally avoid due to anxiety and fear. These can be little things or big things. Just remember that small steps are JUST as important as the big jumps. Please enjoy The Sneaker Experiment© and submit your OWN Sneaker story! Archives
September 2020
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