Lane Closures
When the Lanes Close Up Ahead
As I was driving to a coffee meet up with a new friend, I saw the dreaded "Right Lane Closed Ahead" sign. It had the blinking lights and was attached to a pickup truck, the usual set up. The lane closed sign can bring all kinds of words from one's mouth. Maybe a few unpleasant ones, maybe a huff or a grunt. I tend to sigh.
My mind went immediately to frustration and the thought that now I need to deal with merging to the left or letting traffic in from the right or overall slower traffic or the worst of all, tight lanes and bad traffic.
I don't know about you but the heavy construction area and crazy traffic like there is on I 78 in Pennsylvania right now stresses me out. Cars are shooting in from all over the place. Especially if I'm the passenger. I've become a not so good passenger over the years. I know some of you understand and feel the same as I do.
For me it started in a 1975 Toyota when I was a kid. My dad took crazy sharp turns and I'm
super sensitive to motion, so his driving made me upset. I love to drive but being a
passenger can make me feel anxious. I hate when there is crazy traffic and I'm riding with
one who loves to live on the back bumper of the car in front of us. A little space between is
good.
I appreciate the comments received from my prior post about signs.
If I get uncomfortable, I will let the driver know. It is a bit of test. If they respect my request,
they will give space to the car in front and when they do, I'm fine and I enjoy the trip. Once
when I made a request, I was mocked at and the driver sped up. Another just ignored me
and drove as they wanted. Both situations made me not want to ride with them ever again.
I felt unsafe and devalued.
I've learned that my passenger anxiety is caused by feeling unprotected. I've also learned that little else happens when we feel this way. We focus solely on being protected again, being safe, and not exposed. It makes sense to me why Maslow had security near the foundation of his hierarchy of needs.
When I feel that stress starting to creep in, be it in a long car ride or just work,
I pay attention.
I breath.
I put boundaries around the person(s) or situation that is causing the anxiety.
I just say NO sometimes.
Other times I lean in ... to the stress... the journey... To feeling unprotected.
Gods got my back and I know it.
When you are on your next road trip and you start to feel unsafe, pay attention. What is
causing it? What can you do to add protection to the journey? Or do you choose to lean into
the stress?
