The Comfort Zone vs the Power Zone

When where you are is NOT where you want to be

Image by Michelle Thall

I was happy, relaxed, and feeling free as I sped along the highway, heading home at the end of a road trip. Michelle Shocked was playing, and I was singing along, when I saw tail-lights flashing ahead — not everywhere, just a sprinkling. I slowed down and scanned the road ahead, but there was no time — the problem suddenly appeared smack in front of me. Something resembling a twin mattress blocked the right half of my lane. I reacted reflexively — steering the car to the left, I crossed into the left lane a bit to avoid hitting whatever it was, then ducked back into my lane. My heart wasn’t in my throat because it had happened so fast I hadn’t had time for anxiety. But now, as I continued driving, I realized I hadn’t looked to see if anyone was next to me, or behind me on the left, I’d just instinctively moved to avoid the blockage.

Shit! Now I WAS freaked because I realized I could’ve had an accident, I could be dead, I could have caused a 10-car pile-up! All the blood rushed to my head, my face flushed, and I had that odd feeling of “dodging a bullet.” I’d had that feeling twice before in my life, and all I could do was raise an arm toward the sky and say, “thank you!” I turned off the music, told myself to “slow down and pay attention” and sat up tall in my seat. A few minutes…