Curves of Overcoming: Driving through life’s challenges
In yet another life experience where risks are part of a trajectory.
Hello! A warm welcome to readers! 👋
‘The blinding lights of the racetrack reflected the brightness of my tears as I prepared to drive on an unfamiliar track’.
A perfect metaphor for the new journey I was about to face after the breakup. The end of a years relationship left a hole in my chest, as if I had been thrown into a race without having trained enough. So I decided to embark on a piloting course for beginners. That fast and audacious world reflected, in a way, what I was looking for in life: to overcome limits, gain confidence and find my own path. The adrenaline on the track mirrored the intense emotions he experienced off the track. This one is a girl’s dream.
In both cases, it was necessary to map risks and make the right decisions to avoid accidents and achieve goals.
So, in 2017, after theoretical classes, with my heart racing, I climbed into the car and anxious breath mixing with the roar of the engine. Each step of the process became a mirror for the risks he would need to face to overcome the personal, emotional and professional challenges that came with the end of the relationship.
And the first step was to recognize the risks I was going to face, just as a driver needs to know every curve, straight line and obstacle on the track, I had to face my weaknesses and fears head on. After all, we don’t realize that we run risks every day, but those that are studied bring us security and full awareness to face.
When I saw that loneliness and uncertainty had become the sharpest curves in my life, demanding that I learn to control the speed of my feelings and the direction of my thoughts, I opened my eyes to the new.
The second step was preparation. Like a driver who studies the ideal trajectory before every race, I too needed to come up with a plan for moving forward. I sought professional help — like a track engineer tuning a car for peak performance — I sought support from friends and family, and I immersed myself in activities that brought me joy and personal growth.
Personal growth that would teach me to face any challenge ahead. Every lap around the track taught me something new, just as every day after the breakup showed me a different aspect of myself. Learning to fly wasn’t just accelerating, but also braking at the right times. And on my personal journey, I realized that I also needed to be patient, to know when to slow down, to give time to heal emotional wounds.
The third stage was the action — ‘the moment when the light goes out and the car takes off with all the determination’ — it was necessary to take a leap of faith and face the challenges head-on, allowing myself to take risks, knowing that I could not avoid completely the bumps and skids in the road, nor the accidents.
As a mid-race rider, I needed to stay focused on the present without getting lost in memories of the past or worries about the future. Every turn required me to be agile, adapting to unexpected changes with serenity and confidence.
But in the third corner, where I was feeling more confident, the skid came, where I ended up on the tires.
I felt on edge, my heart sinking when the car lost grip right on the third corner, sliding towards the protective tires. A feeling of panic and helplessness washed over me as I tried to regain control of the situation. Seconds passed.
At that moment, I realized that even when we feel more confident and prepared to face challenges, life can surprise us with an unexpected slide. Just like on the race track, where control of the situation is essential, I also learned that in life we must always be aware of the unforeseen events that may arise.
The screeching of the tires was a painful reminder that overcoming is not a straight line upwards, but a journey filled with ups and downs. Frustration and the feeling of failure hit me hard, but at that moment, I realized that I had to lift my head and move forward, one more time, or better, always!
With the car and tires broken, it was easy to give up and leave the track, just as it would be easy to give up on moving forward after an obstacle as challenging as the end of a relationship. However, the will to win was stronger than the fear of failure.
I drew on the experience I gained during the piloting course, remembering the lessons about patience and persistence.
I took a deep breath, gathered strength and with the help of instructors and colleagues, managed to guide the car to the security area.
Despite the setback, I knew that giving up was not an option. As well as my personal journey of overcoming. I looked at the path ahead with renewed determination, knowing I needed to take extra care and attention.
With each turn, I learned to adapt to the terrain, listen to the car and trust my instincts. And in life, I learned to be kinder to myself, to accept that there would be mistakes along the way, but that each one of them would also be an opportunity for growth and learning.
I learned that no matter how many skids and flat tires life holds for us, the important thing is to never give up on yourself. The race of life is challenging, but with courage, resilience and the constant search for overcoming obstacles, we are able to face any obstacle and cross the finish line with our heads held high, ready for the next challenge that life presents us with.
Finally, the stage of evolution, where I discovered that the overcoming process did not have a defined finish line, but a constant evolution. And so I started collecting track days, rallies and regularity races.
The experience of driving on a race track not only taught me how to master the wheel, it also became a journey of self-discovery. While riding, I learned to listen to my intuition, face fear, focus on one action at a time, and believe in my ability to overcome.
Just like a race car, which needs to be constantly adjusted, my overcoming process also required adaptation and continuous learning. But looking back, and remembering that my dream was to win a pink toy car, and so my parents gave me, I realized that a child’s wish could reach that experience, of not only becoming a more skilled pilot, but also a stronger person, able to face any personal, emotional or professional challenge that life has in store for me.
Thank you for reading. I’m very emotional.
Until later! :)
