Slippery When White

You know when people say “my life flashed before my eyes”?

Well, that’s what I FELT when I spun out of control on the highway running at about 100-kmh.

However this time, I tried to pass the car in front of me was because it going a little too slow (for me). What I didn’t take into account when I did this maneuver were:

• the road condition (two-lanes: one is covered with snow while the other is clean) and
• the car I’m driving (no winter tires).

At such speed, car control is a little more sensitive.

Add snow and (not so new) all-season tires to the equation and now your car is waaay more sensitive.

***

FUN FACT: I’m known to be a slow/bad driver. 

TRUTH: I don’t think I’m slow but I don’t love driving. What most people don’t realize is that  I leverage that identity whenever I want others to do the driving for me lol.

***

The move wasn’t abrupt but rather a slow gentle steer to the left.

BUT I slipped anyway – all the way to the edge while I furiously steered back to the other lane (to avoid getting into the ditch).

Then I slid all the way to the other side almost hitting the edge again then back on the “dry” lane.

The car in front of me sped up while this was happening (to avoid collision) while the other car behind me drove slower – giving me enough space for sliding and draw the letter “S” on the road (when viewed from the top).

I was scared as shit. It was a close call.

What I found interesting is that my life didn’t flash before my eyes as if I gave up control and accepted my fate. Instead, the thoughts that came were:

“Oh SHIT! This is it! Gutter! CAA! Who to call? Car Fix!”

*CAA is a road-assistance company

I didn’t panic (thankfully). It felt like I welcomed any surprises that could come up and react accordingly. I’m safe but I learned a lot more from that one mistake:

1. I realized how I react to high-stress situations – I don’t panic.
2. What happened was a good reminder to be mindful of my actions – think before you act.
3. Just because I can doesn’t mean I have to throw my common-sense away.
4. Be confident but don’t be cocky (I wasn’t trying to be cocky but I felt that way).
5. What benefit do I get from passing the slow driver? Extra time? If so, how much? Whatever it is—it is. NOT.WORTH.IT.

1 close-call incident = 5 lessons = good trade-off = good experience

MoMo Insights 

I prefer not to dive into viral social media scary shit I came across just now but MoMo crept into my brain.

Who’s MoMo? This scary looking fcuk that apparently challenges kids to do harmful things.

I don’t know much about the details.

But what I do know is that she looks fuckin creepy. I say 10 out of 10 stars kind of creepy. This explains why I couldn’t get her image off of my mind.

To dispell the fear I feel towards her, I asked myself a crapload of questions which I find beneficial:

• What makes *insert scary shit* scary?
  • Is it because of the way it looks?
    • When do you know someone looks scary?
      • is it their face? Is it their eyes? Nose perhaps?
        • When are “eyes” or nose or horns or any facial feature considered to be “scary”?
  • Is it because of the idea of dying or losing someone or something because of them?
  • Can “looks”, thoughts or ideas kill or physically hurt you?
    • So why is it that couldn’t get it off your head?
      • Oh, you think it could possibly happen?
        • How?
          • How sure are you?
            • Don’t know?
              • Does that mean your thoughts or ideas are maybe a little too crazy?
                • are you crazy?

LOL! Asking yourself a shit load of questions will tire out your mind from thinking about them.

We are all creative – sometimes a little too creative especially at coming up with certain scenarios that may not even happen.

But when creativity is used the wrong way, it only causes us to become anxious.

Or worse, paranoid.

MoMo wins if I let the fear it’s causing me to sink in.

And I find that to be unfair because all she had to do is put his her image out there – no physical attacks required to scare me just purely psychological.

The point is: our own perception is responsible for our destruction – it’s not about what you see, it’s how you see it.

A Daily Dose of D

“Natural” vitamin D is a little harder to acquire in winter to increase your “happy” hormones.

I’m talking about vitamin D from the sun (in case you didn’t get that).

While that’s a legitimate excuse to explain your bitchy-ness, what if you learn how to disable bitch-mode and enable your happy-mode instead?

I’m talking about taking control of your emotions instead of letting it control you. *Unless you’re pregnant of course- then maybe you’re excused.

That’s what I got out of listening to David Goggins – NO. EXCUSES.

That’s the “daily dose of D” I was talking about. 

In fact, this week, that audiobook got me so motivated that I was able to reduce my workout from the usual 45-min to 30-mins. 

But behind that improvement, a tricky question popped up: How long will the motivation last?

I certainly don’t want it to fade. I’m also aware there is no finish line which is demotivating because it means that the suffering will last forever.

But we’ll see how far I go.

I hope you do the same – don’t stop improving *wink* *thumbs up*

A Year Ago This Week

I…

• reached a milestone in my meditation practice.
• thought about learning “Total Immersion”
• discussed my take on Anxiety.

[Read more about it here]

Goal Update

Side Income

Insurance Broker License = still stuDYING. 

I’ve fallen behind schedule. Oh well…¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Health

Worked out 3x this week. *progress

Finance

Got all my T4s – time to file tax.