Day 226: Directions + Web Series

Today I learned...
...that I can troubleshoot my own directions while driving. I don't have to rely on a GPS... I can actually use my mind.

Today I am thankful for...
...discussions for a new Web Series with a good friend. Stay tuned! ;-)

Day 214: Parents + Reiki Gifts

Today I learned...
...that parents are always parents.

Today I am thankful for...
...my beautiful friend Jenn who gave the gift of Reiki to Rick. I watched the whole process and it was amazing and heartfelt. I am also thankful for my time with her making goofy videos and playing with twin MacBook Pros.

Day 194: Dislike + Laughter of Friends

Today I learned...

...that driving is becoming more of a dislike than an actual fear. :-) 

Today I am thankful for...

...laughing so hard it hurt. My college friends are the best. 

Day 181: Navigator + Important Talk

Today I learned...

...that I am pretty good at being a navigator in the car. 

Today I am thankful for...

...an important talk with my hubby.

Day 180: Juice + Safe Car

Today I learned...

...that Juice is totally on to us. She knows we are going away on vacation and she doesn't like it one bit. 

Today I am thankful for...

...a car that is goof enough condition to get us to Maine safely. 

Day 156: Friend Adventures + GPS

Today I learned...

...that I will meet up with a friend this weekend.

Today I am thankful for...

...my brand new Garmin GPS and the hilarious conversation (by text)

with my best friend that followed its arrival. 

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 151: Driving + Progress

Today I learned...

...that driving can feel free!

Today I am thankful for...

...progress!!!!!

Day 147: Amish + My Driver

Today I learned...
...that there are more Menonites than Amish at Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA. Who knew.

Today I am thankful for...
...Alicia driving us to Lancaster County because I was too afraid!

Day 137: Perfectionism + Friday Night

Today I learned...

...that perfectionist ways can hold me back, not propel me forward.

Today I am thankful for...

...Friday night dinner and TV with Rick. The little things are the best things. 

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 102: Confidence + Promises

Today I learned...
...that confidence affects A LOT.

Today I am thankful for...
...promises of a better future.

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.

Day 38: Listening + Driving Anxiety

Today I learned...
...that sometimes people just need to be heard. I made a home hospice visit today, armed with resources and suggestions and options for a patient's caregiver daughter. She didn't want any of them...yet my visit was very successful. I listened. I validated. I encouraged. I supported. And though I left feeling like I had not "given" anything... in retrospect I think I gave the woman just what she needed.

Today I am thankful for...
...a noticeable decrease in my driving anxiety. I've really been using gratitude to combat it (sounds strange, but it's private and it works!) and it was tested today. Scale of 1-10, it was mere 1. Yay!

Day 33: Driving Ease + a Magical Day

Today I learned...
...that driving in the car with a really good friend makes driving to new places SO much easier.

Today I am thankful for...
...a magical day of adventures with my dear friend Jenn. She came to see me via bus, and from the moment I picked her up at the bus terminal, I was giddy. We had a day of fabulousness, which includes her meeting all of my family members - every one of them! She met Rick, my mom, my dad, my brother, his wife, my little niece, and even my Mom's best friend - my other mother - Barb! And of course - she met Juice and Tumbler! Many good talks and hugging and squealing and smiling ensued. AND THE BEST PART IS it's just the first of many visits in our future!

Day 32: Saying No + Reassurance

Today I learned...
...that saying "no" is perfectly okay if you're already doing a lot and can't take on more without becoming really stressed...and that people who really care about you won't push you to change your mind.

Today I am thankful for...
...a husband who listens to me moan about directions because of my driving anxiety and helps me navigate my upcoming day over and over.