Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Ticket To Ride



Oh my god, I finally did it. I just passed my driving test at the tender age of 29! Anyone that has been reading this blog for long may have picked up on the fact that I have been terrified to go for my driving test, so much so, that I don’t actually like to talk about it. Most people don't even know that I don't have my licence because I do my best to hide it unless anyone directly asks me. I just feel so relieved that I can stop hiding it and just feel like a normal, capable person.


I am still kind of shocked that I passed my test. I had a mind block that I couldn’t do it, and to me, this is just as big as all the weight I have lost so far. I know most people turn 18 and go and do the test and it is no big deal and may struggle to understand how this could be so hard for me. I can move from my family home in the country to the city by myself, go to uni to get a Masters degree, work a high pressured job, travel around the world for business and pleasure, but this little thing almost had me beat.


Driving probably doesn’t seem like much of a weight related issue, but for me it was. I didn’t have the confidence to drive when I turned 18 because I was so down on myself about my weight. I always thought I am too ‘fat and stupid’ to drive and my lack of confidence made me a nervous wreck. Over the years this lack of confidence escalated into a full blown fear, the more people hassled me for not driving, the bigger an issue it became for me.


I started taking lessons last year, but I didn’t get very far because I went through no less than 5 different instructors before I found someone that I didn't completely hate. The problem is that at my age it is very hard to have some idiot tell you what to do and I am obviously not very good at it (seriously, they felt the need to tell me to stop at every red light, like I didn’t already know that?!). In the end I had to stop being picky and just bite my tongue and get on with it. Once I started having consistent lessons, surprise surprise, it really wasn't that hard.


Funny story about my first ever driving lesson, I actually took the day off work because I was so nervous and thought I couldn’t do this because I am fat. Of course I knew that was crazy, but then I get in the driver’s seat and the seat was way too close to the wheel and I literally got stuck. My driving teacher was this tinsy tiny Mexican woman and had the seat so close to the wheel and I was at my biggest weight so it was never going to work. She kept saying the lever to move the seat back was on the right, but in my embarrassment I got flustered and kept looking on the left until she had to run around to my door and pull my seat back to get me out. Looking back now, it was very funny, at the time it wasn’t so funny!


I think the fact that I have lost a lot of weight has given me the confidence to do things like this that I never thought I could. Would I have done this if I still weighed 130 kilos? Probably not. I know that isn't the right thing to say and I should say I felt good about myself at any weight, but I didn't. I said this was the year I am focussing on FREEDOM and I am getting there one step at a time.


The first thing I’ll do with my licence? I'm going to drive to the gym all by myself to go to a Body Pump class and then go through Maccas drive through for a diet coke, man I know how to party!


Here are some pictures of me in my new (well new to me anyway) little Suzuki Swift, I love her so much!














27 comments:

  1. Congratulations on passing your driving test. You are looking fantastic!

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  2. Wow...what an achievement...now you know that you can do anything!!! You look great (love the dress) and the car is great too!!! Well done and whooo hoo to you

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  3. Congratulations! I passed my test at 27 (4 attempts!!!) so I know what its like to believe you can't do it! I think when I got home I just burst into tears ;-)
    The photos are great, you look beautiful and very happy behind the drivers seat! Hope you enjoyed your diet coke!

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  4. Congrats... looks like a nice car.. glad that you are over your fears and you can go anywhere you want....:)

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  5. Congratulations! It wont be long before you are wondering how you coped so long without a car!!

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  6. Wow, this is really inspiring! I'm 23, about to start my Masters degree - and yet can't drive. I too try and hide it. Good for you! I'm going to start lessons this year (later in the year, there is too many 'new' things at the moment and don't want to completely overwhelm myself). I even thought about it today when I saw this cute bright yellow Jeep (I know, it's hard to think of a Jeep as cute - but it was). I then got down on myself because I don't drive. I needed your story today. Thanks! :)

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  7. Congratulations!! It must be such a great feeling to overcome a fear you've held for so long.

    Love your new little car, too-- my car is the older version of the Swift, before they called it the Swift... I'd totally upgrade to a new(er) Swift... my brother's first car was a Suzuki, too :)

    Have fun with your newfound freedom!

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  8. Congratulations! Not only did you overcome your fear, but you did it in style. You're looking fabulous!

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  9. Oh YAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!! I know how terrified you were of that test, so I'm so happy for you that you came out the other end :-D

    You and your new car are looking so cute, enjoy Pump (be prepared for a week of DOMS, mwahaha, it's a beautiful thing, really!)

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  10. Tully, congratulation!! You did it. You can do anything you set your mind to. And since this is a weight loss blog, let me take this opportunity to tell you how FANTASTIC you look. You are looking like a hot tamale!

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  11. I think this is my new fave post! I am literally jumping around in my seat with excitement for you. Just goes to show you can achieve anything you set your mind to! Oh, and you are looking hot, hot, HOT in that dress. Is it your new size 16 one from Target?

    See you soooon!

    xxxx

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  12. CONGRATULATIONS! I don't know what I would do without my license. I got mine as soon as I was old enough and love the freedom of being able to take myself wherever I want to go and not be dependant on anyone.

    Enjoy your new found freedom and your new (to you) cute car.

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  13. Yay Tully!! Good for you! And you got a new car and never said anything .. sneaky girl! haha

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  14. Awesome work!!!! Congrats on passing your driving test. LOVE LOVE LOVE you little car :0)

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  15. Awwwww.... so happy for you. Cute wee car too.

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  16. Congrats on passing the driving test and the car. You look great.

    I still love the freedom of just being able to hop in the car and go wherever my mood takes me.

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  17. Yeah, well done Tully - looking gorgeous as always.

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  18. another lovely dress Tuls, form where????

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  19. Congrats on getting your drivers license what a great achievement. Love your dress too!

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  20. Congratulations on getting your licence, I love the car too.

    This is the first step in going & doing anything you want, you have no excuses anymore :-)

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  21. CONGRATULATIONS! I know what you were going through as I was there too! I didn't get my licence until I was 30 and now I would be lost without it! I think psychologically our weight holds us back from so many things in life but you're taking back control, stepping outside your comfort zone and achieving so much - be proud!

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  22. Congrats, Tully -- you rock! I lost count how many driving tests I had before I finally passed mine, aged about 25 at the time -- it's such a good feeling of freedom to know you can drive. It's fantastic that you got through it :)

    My first driving instructor once had me pull the car over to the side of the road and switch off the engine, whereupon he told me he had "run out of ideas to help" me, and that I should get a new instructor.

    I see his face every time I fail at anything now, and hear him saying he can't help me.

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  23. you are so gorgeous tulls.

    i heart you so hard.

    x

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  24. Look at that gorgeous car, gorgeous attitude and gorgeous you!

    This made me smile in my heart. Congratulations on a wonderful, freedom inducing achievement!

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  25. Congrats babe! And your car is sooo cute too.

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Awww thanks so much for the comment!