Learning to drive a stick shift has been enlightening. Today I learned how to manage stop and go traffic. I use the term manage loosely.
Basically I have been driving a stick before I really should. It's a challenging thing at first but I'm handling it. It's even more challenging not reacting to stalling in stop and go traffic. People are in such a rush and not used to cars stalling out. They zoom up on you thinking your going to go and stop suddenly in your rear. It's exhilarating.
Today I realized I keep killing the car by slamming on my breaks instead of the clutch and the brake. I then shift into neutral and pull the car to a stop. Shift to first and go. Any time I'm uncertain about what to do I remember my new mantra. 'Pause, put it in neutral, take it to first, make double sure it is in first, breath, break if needed. '
After not realizing I was in third instead of first from takeoff and feeling like the engine was going to shoot out from under the hood I knew I needed a mantra.
Then I realised it was familiar. Non reaction is a work in progress for me. When I feel a reaction coming up in me to something that is creating a reaction now I tell my self to step back. Same thing as shifting, get out of gear into neutral.
I'm going to merge the two, stop, get into neutral, assess the situation, when ready, move forward.
Happily shifting forward,
Namaste, Troy.
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