Day 153: No Panic + Garmin

Today I learned...
...that I can drive somewhere unknown without any panic symptoms at all, which is a big deal for me. :-)

Today I am thankful for...
...the purchase of a new Garmin GPS for my car! Yay!

Day 118: Decrease in Anxiety + Plans and a Walk

Today I learned...
...that my driving anxiety is in fact decreasing.

Today I am thankful for...
...making specific plans regarding what we will do on our vacation, followed by a beautiful walk by myself. :-)

Day 84: Good Company + a Driver

Today I learned...
...the truth of the above quote. I found it in an old calendar at work today and was struck by it. It reminded me instantly of my grad school friends. This whole MSW experience initially seemed so long, but with good company we prevailed and made the best of everything.

Today I am thankful for...
...a solution to my driving dilemma for Wednesday. I was worried I wouldn't be able to get to Scranton for a colloquium and still make it back for class that night, because I am too afraid to drive all the way up there myself. A classmate came through for me just as I was resigning myself to backing out.

Day 81: Perfectionsim + Tools

Today I learned...
...that it takes a lot longer to cure perfectionism than I originally thought. :-)

Today I am thankful...
...for all the tools I am learning to help combat my driving anxiety. Thank you, Dr. Salas!

Day 77: Right Moments + Safety

Today I learned...
...that sometimes the right person finds the right thing at the right time. (See: Fast Food Friendship)

Today I am thankful for...
...returning home safely tonight. My 30 minute drive home from class took me an hour and I was white knuckled and nervous the whole way. The roads in this snow/sleet were terrible. Thank God our class got out early!

Day 70: Epiphanies + YOU

Today I learned...
...that there is more to my driving anxiety than meets the eye. New strategies have begun. I shall conquer you, driving phobia!

Today I am thankful for...
...YOU. Yes, all of you. I really mean it. It's awesome to wake up in the morning to a ton of messages or comments or emails or tweets or whatever. It's fantastic to know that you're loving positivity and are learning from gratitude. It's great to have to tell myself to go to bed at night, because I keep wanting to respond to your beautiful words. I LOVE being connected to the world. I love being connected to all of YOU. I love being part of something bigger. I love knowing that we're all part of the human race, leaving our unique impact. :-)

Day 67: Solution + Help

Today I learned...
...that my driving anxiety can be rectified!

Today I am thankful for...
...the psychotherapist who is going to help me conquer my specific phobia anxiety (driving alone) and the associated panic attacks ONCE AND FOR ALL.