So I normally don't get into my personal life much here...that isn't really why I blog.

But I thought I would share one little "secret" of mine and my reflections on it over the past week.

I am 25 & I don't have a driver's license.

(Maybe I should have mailed this anonymously to PostSecrets or something instead! haha)

Yes, that's right... I am about to be married...about to have my Master's degree in counseling...I can do therapy with children and groups and follow brain based therapeutic models that even I can't pronounce...but yet I have not yet learned to drive. There are several reasons why...none of which really matter anymore because, frankly, I'm fed up. Sick of asking friends to cart me here or there, Really sick of having to speed shop at my favorite stores because my poor (soon to be) husband has to tag along, etc.. There will be some growing pains I'm sure- but I am already relishing my impending freedom. 

 As you know, this only proves that no matter who you are or where you come from you have your own issues. We all do...and thats okay! (Say it with me...)

So, like I said- I'm fed up....I decided to take behind the wheel training again. I am taking it through Desert Driving School (free plug!) with Scott- who is the CEO. He has been great; does a good job of putting me at ease and not making me feel like I'm special ed.  So if you are in the Phoenix area and need such services I highly recommend them. 

 Anyway, after doing some driving over the past couple weeks I'm feeling much more comfortable and could be terrorizing the road without a licensed passenger in no time. (Scott, if you are reading this-  I promise I won't actually terrorize the road, I will be very responsible and make my head checks before I change lanes and not let other jerk drivers frazzle me...haha.)

My new found realization (see below) has everything to do with the new copy of Scienftic American Mind that I just received called "Can You Be Too Perfect?" 

Perfectionists, research shows, can become easily discouraged by failing to meet impossibly high standards, making them reluctant to take on new challenges or even complete agreed-upon tasks. The insistence on dotting all the i’s can also breed inefficiency, causing delays, work overload and even poor results. Perfectionism can hurt health and re­lationships, too. It is associated with anorexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, writer’s block, alcoholism and depression. Such problems may be prevalent: a 2007 study that evaluated more than 1,500 college students revealed that nearly one quarter of them suffered from an unhealthy form of perfectionism."

Reluctant to take on new challenges- yup....(driving: case in point)

Difficulty completing agreed upon tasks-yup (when I can't do them "up to par" I put them off...)

Writer's block- Doh!

Here is the biggest thing I have learned from driving again...

We all make 1000's of mistakes every day.  I made so many mistakes the first day back on the road that I could have easily believed that driving was not for me, again. Problem is- I was still behind the wheel of a car...I still had the responsibility of my own life, the life of my passenger and the others around me in my hands. Those mistakes HAD (and have to) roll right off. Sure you learn and try not to do it again (I still content that a car is a rolling weapon- must use with caution!) BUT you can't let those mistakes get you down. 

There is no way to obtain Driving Perfection... I (at least in the rhelm of driving) HAVE TO convert my un-healthy self-effacing perfectionism into the healthy kind. I have no choice... I can not and will no longer restrict my opportunities to live as I want or go where I want. Hopefully I can translate this new found "Imperfection-ism" into other parts of my life- maybe I'll post more often and turn my graduate school papers in on time....maybe.    ;)

 Thanks for reading!

-The soon to be Driving Madly Blogger