I have always loved to speed. I never drive so fast that I could lose my licence, and never recklessly, but rarely abiding by the law with respect to the speed limit.
I drive powerful cars and I drive safely, but I do like to open up and go fast on an open road. Driving fast like this creates a certain tension in me. I used to pride myself on being able to sense the presence of police cars and would slow down just before coming upon them on the other side of the crest or around the bend. I rarely got caught. To be honest, I think I liked the thrill of it, the rush of it, the feeling I was ‘getting away with it’.
But I have since come to realise that driving in this way creates a narrowness of focus. I am always focussed on the speedo, the sides of the road – looking for likely hiding spots for police cars – and focussed on the other cars, wondering if they are well-camouflaged or unmarked police cars.
I am also always coming up behind slower moving vehicles, so they are always ‘getting in my way’. This leads to impatience, frustration, and sometimes even internal rage.
The other day, I was driving to an appointment. It was a sunny day during school holidays, and I was driving on a highway the police love to patrol. I started off as usual and then thought: “Why not just drive on the speed limit?” So I did.
Driving on the Speed Limit – a Revelation
I drove along at 100 km an hour, instead of 120, and slowed down for road works and built up areas, always travelling within the law and abiding by the speed limits. This created an enormous ease and openness in me and my whole awareness opened up. I was not just focused on the road and on my speed, but was able to be aware of and appreciate my own self, my body and everything around me.
Because I was driving at the same speed as everyone else, the whole road opened up around me. No-one was getting in my way, I had all the space and time in the world, and I was on the road with everyone else, sharing the space with everyone equally.
I felt a great stillness, and a great sense of joy.
What do I mean when I say I felt a great stillness?
I am usually a little racy, on edge, my mind going quickly, jumping forwards and back in time… and all that even though I no longer choose to drink coffee or eat sugar! I sometimes try to fit too much into each moment and so am often running late, rushing to complete tasks and get to the next one.
In this space that I created by driving within the speed limit, just by allowing myself to drive within the road laws, rather than forcing myself to go faster to get somewhere, this raciness fell away and I was left feeling a great stillness and spaciousness within me. And I had the understanding that this sense of stillness and space is always there, living within me, if I allow myself to slow down and feel it.
And then I wondered why I had spent 35 years speeding while driving, depriving myself of this pleasure; the pleasure of abiding by the law. I realised that the law is there, not to annoy me, or to be flouted for the sake of it, but to keep us all as safe as road laws can, no matter what kind of car you have, what the weather conditions are, and how much traffic is on the road.
What part of me thinks I am above or exempt from this law? The part that thinks I am smarter, more alert, have a better car – that the law does not apply to me?
What part of the law says that it is for everyone but me? Abiding by the law comes from the understanding that we are all equal, and that the law is for everyone, equally so; and if we choose to break it, no matter how special we think we are, there will be consequences for us, as there are for everyone else.
This has been an amazing and humbling experience for me, and a great lesson in true equality. And to experience stillness within while in motion is a far greater joy than any cheap thrill (which can become an expensive fine!) that I ever had when speeding. Now, all I have to learn to do is leave enough time to get where I am going, as I drive whilst abiding by the law!
I am forever inspired by the life and work of Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine.
By Anne M, Northern NSW, Australia
Further Reading:
Caught Speeding
Driven to Distraction
854 Comments
Since reading this article I have changed the way I drive to work in the morning. Choosing to be much more aware of my fellow drivers, and actually sticking to the speed limit which has lead me to arrive at my place of work feeling far less agitated and actually far more prepared for the day. Thank you for sharing.
What is it that happens when to climb into all that steel that makes you the Knights of old going out to do battle… and you were just going down to shop for a loaf of bread and carton of milk. Cars have made us feel invincible and today they are so smooth and quite you can loose the sense of speed. By falling for this false environment of comfort, have we forgotten that we are still controlling a ton of steel at speed. The long arm of the law has a way of giving you a full stop and marker… on your license of were you at the time.
Being on the road WITH everyone else – this is key for me, thank you for highlighting this Anne. Its often been too easy to jump in the super capsule to race off with a sense of ‘I’m (virtually) untouchable here on my solo mission’, thats of course up until the blue lights start flashing behind you. How much more smooth and effortless the ride becomes when the angst is taken out of the drive(r).
I can so relate to this Anne. I have always felt to drive faster than the speed limit as if it was my right to do so. I have come to realise through reading your blog that I have done this with no regard for the safety of myself or anyone else on the road. Arrogance and ignorance I think we call this. Anne it is so true with what you say about not leaving enough time to go places and then having to speed to make up time. When I leave enough time to get ready before going places there is a feeling of calmness in my body without the horrible tension/anxiety I use to feel. Once this is known it is a matter of choosing which way you want to be on the roads and in life.
Love this Anne, and I’ve also experienced the same. When I drive at the speed limit, when I’m not in a rush because I haven;t packed too much into every moment squeezing myself for time, driving can be a gorgeous meditation (with eyes open) of me connecting with me. Driving is no longer just about me getting from a to b, it’s time for me to be with myself. Pretty priceless.
That’s a great way to look at it Katerina, as a time to be with oneself… how often have I tried to cram so much into that drive time – Phone calls, audios, quick bit of lippy! There’s a great opportunity to look at what’s going on in our day if we’re not able to focus on driving while we’re driving! Getting better, but Anne’s blog has got me giving more focus to driving with me.
I have felt the same Katerina, driving has become a great marker for me. I started to always get in my car with awareness of my body and this rhythm has become part of my everyday. My car seat has an imprint that brings me back to tenderness. My hands then gently touch the steering wheel and I can feel me coming back to my stillness. This has been great for me, as I’m still trying to get my morning rhythm to calmness as I leave the house with kids in tow.
I love this Katerina and love this feeling being connected to my hands on the steering wheel and feeling the curves and movement of the road.
My speedometer reads a few km higher than what speed I am actually travelling. My GPS however tells me the speed I am actually doing and so I always set my cruise control to what the GPS says. When I look at my speedo I like the thrill of the idea of speeding, even though technically I am not. I very much relate to what you have shared about being fixated on speed, and people getting in my way! I have had moments where I think ‘just slow down, what’s the big rush’ – and have felt the stillness that comes with this also. The funny thing is, I’m rarely every running late for anything but I feel such an urgency to get places! A little too preoccupied with time and ‘making the most of it’ perhaps. Thanks for the inspiration Anne, I’m going to practice enjoying being with me while I drive…
Thanks for your comment Brooke, I can so relate to rarely being late but feeling such an urgency to get places. There is such a lot of nervous tension for me around being on time. It feels like it is tied up to a belief around not wanting to let people down. The thing is that when I rush, I feel so tense that when I arrive the person I am meeting doesn’t get to be with the real me but a version of me that is stressed and overwhelmed and I’m pretty sure that’s not the me they wanted to spend time with 🙂 I too am going to practice enjoying being with me while I drive
I had a great realisation this morning. It was bank holiday and so not many cars on the road when I drove to work. I used to blame other road users when I would get caught up in the “rush hour” to get to work, but there was no-one else to blame this morning and I got caught in my own “rush hour” as I could feel a drive in me to get to work on time.
It’s a great point you have made Anne, about feeling your above the law. It’s true that abiding by the law comes with a realisation that we are all equal and have the same laws to live by- it’s a great way to look at it and brings an understanding to why at times I don’t follow the laws. Sticking to the speed limit would be way less stressful- and there’d be no slamming on the breaks when seeing a police car come up. Talk about less tension !
I have been a bit of a speeder in the past, however I often got caught. I can relate to so much of what you have shared Anne. I have enjoyed slowing down and driving the speed limit which has instead offered me the opportunity to connect with my ‘stillness whilst in motion’. I realise that driving the speed limit is also a responsible loving and caring choice for myself and the community that I am part of, not above. Thank you Anne for sharing this beautiful revelation which has called me to deepen my commitment to honor the joy of my stillness where ever I am, and that every moment provide us with the opportunity to choose this.
Awesome comment Carola. I agree this blog is a gentle reminder for me to also connect to my stillness whilst in motion. It is so simple yet very empowering to connect to stillness.
I love this Anne. I have come to love driving on the highway while I was living in the US as the speed limit was normally around 65mph and as you describe the traffic is going in a certain rhythm, I was always very relaxed and able to enjoy things around me. Now, living in Germany I sometimes get caught up in the limitlessness of speed, as we literally have no speed limit on many parts on the highway. So your blog is a very good reminder for me to actually stay with my speed limit, in the sense of where is my ‘limit’ at any given moment that I am driving before I start tensing up in my body and only the street ahead of me becomes the sole focus point. Thank you.
I love this Esther about staying within Your own speed limit. Our bodies tell us exactly when that limit is reached.
That’s interesting Esther, I can also see for myself living in Australia where we have set speed limits that it is often the energy of the other drivers around me that I can get caught up in. I can feel when someone is rushing behind or around me and I will often feel a tension in my body at this time, sometimes choosing to enjoin and rush along with them but it never feels worth it as for that moment I have driven my body in a way that it wouldn’t ever choose to do.
I can relate to the tension you describe Anne when driving too quickly – even if it is at the speed limit, I find I can try and ‘push it’ if I know it would be safer/easier to drive 5 or 10 mph below the limit, and end up feeling anxious/nervous, especially as I am only relatively new to driving
I love the point you are raising here, Jessica. I have found myself often driving only a few klms per hour too fast and wondered why I always did that? If 120 is allowed why did I always put the cruise control at 124? It certainly puts a push and a drive in the body. And this can be there if I drive at the ‘right’ speed. So I am learning with everything that the rhythm (the quality) I do things in is super important.
Anne what a revelation that driving within the speed limit is actually more in harmony with other road users. So many things we do which when we stop, and feel the impact either on our own body or that of others we wonder why we ever did that. Great blog because it asks me to consider what might I still be doing in this way. Thanks
Great blog Anne, I can relate to pushing the speed limit when I think I can get away with it, but I have never thought about how that brings a tension into my body – which, upon thinking about it, I know that it does. I’ll definitely be more aware of this next time I feel the urge to speed – thank you for sharing!
A.M loved what you have written. Admittedly we all have driven quicker than we should do. Getting from A to B at speed would save you about 7 mins off your journey. You never know if you are being followed by an unmarked police car, and then pulled over, which could cost you your licence, and not just for speeding. How about careless driving or dangerous driving, could be their radar.
How many people who speed think – ‘I am precious cargo; could have a family at home that I love and care for and they care for me, and they would like you home in one piece’.
Go with care on your journey.
I’ve never been one to follow rules unless they made sense to me. But I see that this perception or approach is based on my own beliefs and ideals of how I want the world to be and operate. It is not seeing that we are a group of people and that rules are guidelines for everybody in the group, leaving no one out. My philosophy was only ever about me, leaving everybody out or at least to their own devices. Ouch. Having exposed this in me, I feel a change in my body, a new feeling that I am part of something much bigger than myself. Seeing rules as guidelines for everybody with no exceptions gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling of comradeship, family. And with that comes a stillness and steadiness in how I go through life’s activities. A much nicer way I think than going it alone.
Thanks A.M I relate to your story. I enjoyed the thrill of speeding and generally getting away with breaking the law due to listening intently to my sixth sense. I must say it has served me well in many cases. But who is it truly serving? Me and me only, this does not make sense to when this world is about all of us, not just one. I enjoy abiding by the law now and not just to avoid getting caught. I can never bring myself to throw even a tiny piece of gum out of my car window anymore because I know this is a huge act of disregard to everyone else even though it may not get noticed, it just feels so wrong to do this now.
I have had exactly the same experience as what you have described above – great sharing.
What you have described has been similar to my own experience. Whilst I loved the thrill of speeding, I was always tense. A more ‘lawful’ drive is very much the way to go and much less racy and stressful.
“What part of the law says that it is for everyone but me?” Awesome question Anne.
“In this space that I created by driving within the speed limit, just by allowing myself to drive within the road laws, rather than forcing myself to go faster to get somewhere, this raciness fell away and I was left feeling a great stillness and spaciousness within me. And I had the understanding that this sense of stillness and space is always there, living within me, if I allow myself to slow down and feel it.”- Wonderful blog Anne. Great reminder of the benefit to slow down and drive within the speed limits. This also applies to when doing any task. Is it done in urgency so anxiousness kicks in; or is it done in gentleness so time is spacious.?
Beautiful Anne. This makes perfect sense. It is the same when I am rushing to get somewhere on foot. Everyone can get in the way and this leads to frustration and rage. But if I slow down and accept the pace of those around me I have time to be with myself and choose movements that are less rushed and less angry. Effectively I can give myself time to feel good! This could apply to anything!
It is so true Anne in that when we believe that the law need not apply to oneself we create an arrogance that some how we are above the law and thus above everyone else and we find ourselves removed and separated from humanity. The essence of the law is to hold everyone equally and thus show the existence of brotherhood.
It is only recently while driving on the motorway that I realised how I allow others to dictate the speed I actually drive at times – no wonder I feel so tense/anxious and experience physical pain in my body. Cars just appear out of no where right up to my bumper, and I can feel an aggressive almost bully tactics for me to move faster out of their way. It is only a few days ago on this very same motorway that again I observed and experienced this same scenario. I chose this time to gently focus on me being much more still (gently breathing) and not give way to the temptation to speed up and play this speed game. Wow! what a difference this time the driver backed right off. Smiling as in your words Anne I experienced “stillness within while in motion”.
Thank you for sharing so honestly Anne. I love how you expose the arrogance that is attached to breaking the law and exceeding the speed limit and the equality and sense of brotherhood that is felt when we abide by the law. living in a way that builds harmony on the roads knowing that we are all in this together it really is a microcosm of the wider world.
Beautifully said Anne Marie.
Anne I’ve also recently been driving at or around the speed limit when I’ve been doing long trips. By leaving myself plenty of space and time I’ve ended up getting to my destination feeling alive instead of drained. I’ve also noticed less frustration on the motorway and a much simpler journey. Before hand I would likewise be pushing my driving to the limits knowing I was doing too much but only slowly down if I thought I would get caught – no wonder I would end up exhausted.
Its not difficult to believe that being focussed and attentive to the road makes you feel smarter than the average driver, because whatever speed they are going, most drivers are ‘checked out’, talking on the phone, to the person next to them listening to the radio or just not really focussed on driving. So one could easily justify feeling safer for driving faster and staying more attentive to the road. I also do not believe that road speed limits have anything to do with the true speed that feels most caring for our bodies. Otherwise they would not vary so much. However, I take the point that speeding may create some tension and less space around people, especially if not alert. The most self respectful thing I can do is to remain present and drive in way that provides space on the road for myself and others. Then speed seems to take care of itself.
This was a great blog to read today Anne, I realise I need to apply your principles for safe and spacious driving more consistently. We are worth the benefits you describe.
This is gorgeous Anne – it feels like time as well as spaciousness opened up for you when you let go the need for speed.
It certainly does Jane.
I love this blog. So often we ‘push the boundaries’ to see what we can get away with just because we can when it’s much more respective to others to see that those laws and rules are there for a reason
This is so true Anna, ‘So often we ‘push the boundaries’ to see what we can get away with just because we can when it’s much more respective to others to see that those laws and rules are there for a reason’. This article makes me realise that I have never really respected these road laws and rules,and have always tried to get round them or push them a little bit. Im aware how I can sometimes slow down at speed cameras instead of slowing down because this is the safe, responsible way to drive. My partner drives to the speed limits and it is a pleasure being in the car with him, it feels like a very gentle, careful, considerate way of driving, whereas he does not enjoy being in the car when I’m driving, a great lesson for me – time to slow down and drive at the speed limit, thank you.
Dear Anne
Wow thank You for being so honest and sharing this joy of stillness with us.
With love
Nadine
Anne I love that you bring the arrogance of the motorist to light here. As a pedestrian I observe quality in driving has dropped considerably, failing to indicate unless another vehicle is behind and speeding are both great examples. Each are treacherous and several ‘near misses’ later, I no longer feel motorists are aware of me crossing the road. …
This is a great realisation you share….’I had all the space and time in the world, and I was on the road with everyone else, sharing the space with everyone equally’….brilliant! Thank you
A great article Anne, I can relate with what you share. I love this, ‘just by allowing myself to drive within the road laws, rather than forcing myself to go faster to get somewhere, this raciness fell away and I was left feeling a great stillness and spaciousness within me.’ How wonderful that, ‘ this sense of stillness and space is always there, living within me, if I allow myself to slow down and feel it.’ Gorgeous.
A great article Anne and one that has a very familiar feel for me. I got a speeding ticket and knew exactly when and where I had been noticed distracted by where I had come from, what had taken place and not paying attention to where I was on the road. It also brought up feelings of being ‘found out’ and not being seen as being obedient and well behaved. I am grateful for this stop as I now travel with much greater presence of where I am and where everyone else I share the road with is.
Anne your own self awareness, enabled you to stop, reflect on your attachment to speed and made a choice to change your way of being as a driver. By doing so you began to enjoy driving, and became a responsible driver for your own and road users safety. Better this than being brought to a stop only when a speeding ticket falls on the mat (it’s happened to me) or even worse because of a road accident.
Thank you for sharing Anne, I love going fast, hugging the corners, hearing the engine, etc.. but do find myself at times getting a little on edge when I drive too fast. When I leave myself plenty of time to drive and am in rush you are right everything opens up and the beauty of my surroundings is clear to see instead of just being focused on the road and my destination!
Thank you for sharing with us Anne. What you have given us is a great example of regaining control of the car after having allowed oneself to be seduced by its power and potential performance. Putting all the usual safety aspects to one side, the improved sense of well-being that you felt as a result of driving more harmoniously with your fellow road-users is ample justification for doing it.
Thanks Anne. Brings out the fact that we can choose to be ignorant of these small things, while choosing to be equally ignorant of others all the more. We have speed limits for reasons (:
What part of the law says that it is for everyone but me…..? Thinking that we are above the law, or better or special of will get away with it just shows us an arrogance that we carry while in fact we are all equal. Without this arrogance, there wouldn’t be so many speeding tickets…
I love this Anne M and, although I do like to speed sometimes because of the feeling moving fast, I do agree that abiding the law equals to abiding being part of society where we need these laws for the safety for us all. Speeding in a way is taking irresponsible risk not only for ourselves but also for anyone else who uses the same road. How many accidents are being caused by speeding and how much does these affect our society because of all costs related to it, from direct costs to indirect costs because of the delays beng caused by the traffic congestion that are a result of the accidents?
Thanks to your blog I allow myself to come to a deeper understanding of what speeding is about,
– why do we need to feel superior above the people driving normal speeds?
– why do we need the excitement of driving fast?
– why do we need this narrowness of focus that is required to drive fast?
– etc.
When I allow myself to feel that I am an equal user of the roads and that I have the responsibility to drive safely, not only for myself but for everybody else, It makes no sense to me to have an answer on any of the above questions because non of them will justify any of my personal needs to count more than safety on the roads for all of us.
Thanks for your insights, makes me realise how much tension I must hold in my body when I am rushing and checking the speed constantly, and wondering if I will get caught if I am just over the speed limit. And really, all this speeding only makes you get some place a little bit faster, but the risk that is there not just for a fine, but for yours and everyone else’s safety is worth slowing down for.
And most of all, I love how you shared, what makes me more important or different to anyone else.
Anne, it is lovely to read how you shifted from focusing on yourself to ‘sharing the space with everyone equally’ and how you returned to a real sense of spaciousness and stillness instead of the raciness which you were addicted to.
That’s a whole new blog Anne – “Learning to leave enough time to get where I am going!” I can relate to enjoying a bit of speed and agree that it’s something to do with the buzz, I feel the effects in my nervous system. Worth trying it out, it’ll be an interesting experiment on my next longer journey!
Agree Rosanna! That’s the next step, leaving enough time to get where I’m going. This is an area I really need to work on. I always assume I can make up time on the road by being extra clever, getting in my own lane, weaving in and out. The truth though, like you, is that it’s just nervous energy built up in my body that doesn’t feel very nice and is basically pointless. 5 minutes more time to be where I need to be and arrive safe and sound isn’t that drastic a concept.
I agree Rosanna that the need to speed while doing any task is reflected and carried into all that I do in the day, so it is not just when driving behind the wheel of a car that you can get that buzz you speak of. Learning to leave enough time for all that I do and not just pushing things to the limit and effectively squeezing every second I can out of every minute so I can get more fitted in feeds the vicious circle of anxiety and overwhelm and is something I definitely need to work on.
Oh Anne. Are you my conscience? I can relate to this article like nothing else. Having recently lost my license from an accumulation of speeding fines, and now with less than 2 months to go, I can absolutely appreciate how much tension I have always been in when in the car. It’s automatic, well, the transmission is, but also it’s automatic the moment I step in to my car which mind you is nothing flash, just a zippy little 2004 Corolla, I’m ready to race off, and take the road on like it was my personal track.
Very recently I’ve truly had the opportunity to see just how much nervous tension I create for myself when I leave everything to the last moment, which inevitably keeps me always running behind, which then results in me making up the time on the road, thinking I own it and can anticipate others moves well before they can and essentially get to where I need to be on the very dot or a few minutes late.
You have described the tension perfectly, about having to keep an eye on absolutely everything around you when you’re speeding, it’s what being Jason Bourne must be like…always on high alert and paranoid, whilst appearing calm and in control. But the truth is that it is paranoia and anxiety that is running my body, rather than a stillness, which I’ve come to notice is far more enjoyable than the raciness of before. What I also have noticed since I have not been driving for over a month now, is that it has forced me to be more organised, and well planned because I can’t make up the time on the road when I’m not the one conducting the train. I had an experience the other day where due to my new rhythm being so much more fluent, I was able to walk out the door with an extra 2 minutes to spare which meant my walk to the station was so leisurely I didn’t need to pick up the pace at all, and that set the tone for the rest of my day and my oh my was that better than being/imagining I am king of the road,
The loss of my license has been a real blessing!
What a great sharing, Elodie! Isn’t life wonderful – everything can be seen as the blessing it truly is, if we so choose to see it that way.
Anne I loved reading this. I could really feel the spaciousness of the drive. When I allow this in myself I feel a great ease and find myself enjoying the drive even when I could go a lot faster because there aren’t any cars on the road. I’m not narrow mindedly focused on getting to my destination which takes all frustration away. A simple unrestrained appreciation of myself and the journey – I detect a metaphor here for life in general.
Wow! This could be the answer to road rage! I loved the way you came to the realisation of the ever present choice between stillness and nervous tension. Lately I have been finding how deliberately I can choose things that will make me a little on edge, leaving home a bit too late, finding things to do at the last minute, having unrealistic expectations of what I can get done etc. When I stop choosing these things the stillness and therefore the awareness, openness and inclusiveness of others is naturally there.
This is such a great point you make, Fiona. That we are deliberately choosing these things to create tension and to keep us from our natural stillness. When we start to see it as a conscious choice, we have an opportunity to change and make different choices – like not squeezing in that extra task before leaving for work, knowing it will make us late. I find that even if I do still make that last-minute choice which makes me late, I can still choose to drive there in stillness, and this brings me back, so I may arrive late, but at least I am still!
Thanks Anne for some great insights. I have found it so true that when I allow sufficient time to drive within the speed limit I arrive much more refreshed and ready to move onto the next task. When I am running late and try to drive above the speed limit, my whole body feels the tension of how I drive, not to mention the irritation I feel at other drivers and red lights etc. When I reflect on this blog I realise that this habit actually reveals to me so much more in terms of how often I get caught up in busyness and doing, rather than creating stillness and then allowing the motion to flow from there.
I drove on the motorway today for the second time, the first time since learning to drive. It was pouring with rain and blowing a gale and my first instinct was to panic, but instead I kept calm and assessed each moment as it came, accepting my mums assistance rather than getting snappy because I was stressed. But even then I could feel myself gripping the wheel and the tension in my body because of being slightly above the speed limit and over taking other cars. My shoulder stated to hurt and so did my fingers, and so I adjusted my seat and just let the traffic and my car flow as it needed to and it was really enjoyable!
Such a cool blog Anne, I particularly love reading the last paragraph, where you talk of your lesson in equality and the stillness within motion.
I love what you share here Ann, and can relate to speeding when I am running late as it feels awful in the body. And what happened so many times, is that the slow car that I just had to pass, caught up with me down the track anyway, so virtually a waste of time and nervous energy.
Thanks, Anne. It is amazing how arrogant we can be when we think the rules do not apply to us. When we open our perspective up to why the laws are in place, it changes from being an inconvenience, and becomes an opportunity for us to participate in the bigger picture. This is a much greater feeling than being able to do what you want.
You share, Ann what I am sure many of us have felt about faster driving. For me its not the thrill of the speed, but because I have often felt a rush and anxiety of being late. I can relate to the frustration of “slower” cars and the feeling that they are in my way. Allowing more time makes a huge difference to the way I feel when I drive and I love that spaciousness in the car that you write about and going with the flow of the traffic.
I remember having pain in my body, tensions and muscle pain after an hour in the car. All gone since I drive on speed limit. That’s how I feel in all areas of life right now. I drive on the speed limit of my body by taking care of my rhythms in daily life. Haven’t been sick for 3 years now!
I can really relate to this Felix, I used to have pain in my body when driving and noticed that it was when I was rushing, I could feel that I was pushing my body to get somewhere on time, I often don’t go at the speed limit (sometimes just a little bit over), but Im really feeling how irresponsible this is for myself and everyone.
Great Blog Anne M. I love how you shared how the Law is there for everyone equally, and the reminder of what happens when you try to fit too much into moments.
Gorgeous post Anne based on a real life experience. It never ceases to amaze me what we learn from life when we are open and allow things to flow rather than race to get ahead. Thank you for confirming the ease in which we can live life, if we so choose.
Such a revelatory blog Anne. When you shared about that you liked to drive fast on the open road I first had the thought of yes that would be lovely but when I read how much tension it gave into your body I understood how it actually is not truly great to drive faster than allowed. I can relate to feeling tension when I drive too fast for myself, the feeling of ‘I am not in control of the car anymore now’ and also ‘if something would suddenly happen I would not be able to respond adequately.’ It is so much lovelier to drive at the speed that is allowed and be present with everyone who is driving as well.
I can so relate to this blog. I grew up racing old cars around the fields with my brothers and their friends so when it came to driving on the road I brought lots of old habits with me. It took me 3 goes to pass my driving test because I was going too fast each time. If I am distracted by thoughts or not completely in my body I can still let the speedometer get past the required speed for the road I am on, but generally these days I am so much more careful and like you, actually enjoy the feeling of spaciousness and well-being that driving more slowly brings.
This is very revealing for me too as I often find myself going faster than the set speed and it certainly does cause a momentum. I actually feel for me that it is a reflection of my whole day and a good marker for me. If I get out of bed thinking how busy my day is going to be then I am already in a momentum from the beginning. This can compound if I get held up in the office and am then running late or have over committed myself with work. By the time I get into the car I am in some anxiousness to be somewhere quickly and as Anne M. has pointed out I miss out experiencing the beautiful stillness in motion which is possible when driving. Thank you for bringing this to my attention and awareness.
I agree Anne, if you rush out of bed and live ahead of yourself according to the busyness you have predicted in your day its easy to feel overburdened and get caught in the anxiousness of constantly pushing the speed limit so you literally run from one thing to the next which makes your day quite obviously a rather stressful and overwhelming.
I used to love speeding and like you Anne got really impatient if I got stuck behind a lorry or a driver abiding to the speed limit and at one time got close to loosing my licence. Before speed cameras it was normal to speed, everyone did it and people would sit on your tail at 80 or 90 miles an hour, thankfully with the onset of speed cameras and the volume of traffic on the road less people speed now. I now enjoy driving at the speed limit and have found the 30, 50, 60 and 70mph are a perfect speed for how I am feeling (unless I am late!) and if I accelerate a lot beyond these limits I can feel my body becoming agitated and anxious.
I agree, Alison, the more I am putting this “driving on the speed limit” into practice, the more I am finding that, if I stray over the speed limit again, I feel tension in my body – my very own internal speedometer!
Great sharing Anne. I used to drive a scooter which was the fastest way to get through the city. I did not have to speed, but there was always this nervous tension about getting as quick as possible to my destination and there was this feeling of beating the time, which made me feel very efficient. Today I use public transport or walk and feel much more present in my journeys. So I feel I created a spaciousness that I did not have before and from this spaciousness time feels very different, no need to control time anymore.
Feeling this true equality is a big change. It means, that the constant strive for something better, or more of something for only yourself is fading away, which takes away pressure and brings an enormous relaxation. Suddenly it is enough to be you – which makes life very simple and clear.
Its not just about us! Its every-one. And even though we may think a speed is far too slow, it is there for safety… quite revealing how we don’t tend to see it like that!
Well said Joshua it isn’t just about us but about everyone. They were talking about speed limits on the radio the other day and the reason they are in place …. to stop people from getting hurt or killed. When we hear stories of parents that have lost children through speeding it puts it into perspective.
What a beautiful reminder that the joy of stillness is there to be felt, even whilst we are in motion
Beautiful Carmel, to sit in the car and feel the traffic coming towards you as you proceed at an even pace gives an amazing feeling of space and being still in the midst of motion even though we are moving. It can always be like this if we choose to connect with our own stillness and drive from there. Everything seems to work around us and space appears in front of us as though our world time is suspended.
Honest account Anne.
I think this is a unspoken event that effects pretty much everyone I know. We are always affected by the way other people drive. When we actually abide by the laws that are set in place to give us all common ground we will all be able to feel this spaciousness on the road. However many still make it about zipping in and out of tiny gaps to make it to the next meeting 30secs earlier. The first focus shouldn’t be how long the travel takes but that sharing the road so no one has to feel that ‘on edge feeling’. That is sometimes ROAD RAGE.
Its about smooth ride not a speedy ride.
Exactly Luke, it is very interesting that even though we’re driving faster, we often only get there a few minutes earlier. This then means the common excuse of ‘I was late’, or ‘I needed to get their with plenty of time’, is thrown out, because it’s not as if driving to an appointment 10 minutes away going 5-10mph over the speed limit will make heaps of difference. Why then do we do it? As Anne has openly presented, could it be for the thrill? Or wanting to feel superior to other drivers?
Beautifully said Luke!
What your blog shows me is that there is so much to learn in every moment if we choose too. A great sharing of the simplicity of choosing to live within the world and not rail against it and how much beauty can be gained when we do this. Thank you Anne.
Well said, Sarah. When we react to certain things in life we rob ourselves of the opportunity to stay connected to the bigger picture which can be very simple and lovely indeed.
So true Sarah, and Anne’s blog so beautifully illustrates how delicious the ‘experience of stillness within while in motion’ can be when we allow ourselves to surrender to spaciousness.
Yes Stevie and Janet. This line stood out for me today as I re-read the blog – “this raciness fell away and I was left feeling a great stillness and spaciousness within me”. And it was reminded to me that this stillness and spaciousness is always there – always – consistently there. We just busy ourselves not to feel it but we have the choice to – as you say Stevie – surrender to the spaciousness.
Your blog makes obeying the speed limit feel so appealling it’s practically a public service announcement. Thank you AM – this is absolutely inspiring.
I agree Leonne. Anne is making the way we drive about people not just what we want for our quick thrills!
Agree Leonie, yes it makes it seem absolutely like the most amazing chance to express stillness and gentleness and even one ness.
Great to read this Anne I have for so long done the same – sneaking above the limit just by 4 or 5 kms an hour as if to get the better of the world. Sensibly smug and in charge – no one can tell me what to do. What you have highlighted here is that there is a great deal of tension that is present when travelling through the world like this and it seems so selfish to carry on in this way. I have a renewed commitment to travelling to feel the stillness of me not exercise seeming power over the car, the road and other drivers.
Well said Lee. It’s so subtle that feeling, ‘sensibly smug and in charge’, choosing just a few kms above the limit is easily justified to a police officer, and to myself. I’m just that little bit better than another, a little bit of a better driver, I’ll get to my destination a little bit earlier than another etc. I’ve said to myself, ‘no one can tell me what to do’ too. What a tension this creates, what arrogance and what selfishness. I’m committed to driving like Anne now, who wouldn’t be after reading this?
Yes that is a great distinction Lee. We are not really aware of the energy we leave behind us when we swoosh along a road. I am always reminded of that when I see the wind created by lorries whizzing along, all the bushes and trees getting buffeted around. It reminds me that water is a great medium for reflecting the true effects of our movement. If we were driving around in speed boats on water, we would have to drive differently because the wake of everyone’s boats would create havoc. It is just the same in a car only we don’t see it. Driving in stillness and at the correct speed leaves a very gentle wake for others to follow and this alone can make a huge difference on our roads.
Thank you Anne,
I can so relate to the enormous difference I feel when my whole body has tensed up, feels rigid, my shoulders are forward and I am stressed because I am speeding, because I am running late… As opposed to cruising with my body open, relaxed and surrendered, enjoying each and every turn of the wheel, bends in the road, and honouring where I position my car on the road, and the flow and feel of the engine as I drive.
It’s a bit like my choice to either sprint to my destination, getting frustrated and needing to overtake others on the footpath, arriving dishevelled, tense and sweaty (and upset that I did so) – or, allowing myself to enjoy a gorgeous walk with nature, connecting with others, and arriving even more lovely than when I left.
I have found that speeding actually never gets me anywhere faster that going according to the speed limit, and that I then need to spend an even longer amount of time recovering from the journey and the harm of pushing in such a way.
Such a lovely sharing, Kylie, thank you. I can really feel the difference between these two ways of being in my body. And yes, the time we ‘save’ in speeding to our destination (which is almost nothing, as Steve Matson shared earlier) is more than ‘spent’ in recovering from the way we got there!
Such a valid point – yes, it’s false economy to get to point A with a rush, champion the timeframe we did it in, without being aware of the time we then need to recover from our haste. The body doesn’t like being rushed or constricted with nervous tension that speeding creates.
This is such a beautiful image Kylie, ‘cruising with my body open, relaxed and surrendered, enjoying each and every turn of the wheel, bends in the road, and honouring where I position my car on the road, and the flow and feel of the engine as I drive’. I will enjoy reflecting upon this as I drive to work today. A very inspiring expression of another way of being with ourselves.
Wow Anne M, there is a lot in this blog that can be applied to pretty much any part in life! The idea of having a speed limit in everyday tasks is an interesting one – whereby the limit is in place to avoid feeling exhausted (Using too much fuel from going faster/like fuel economy in cars ) possibly crashing into things (chairs, tables, stubbing ones toe on the coffee table due to not being aware of our surroundings) and many other possibilities that can happen. And where we can learn to be aware of these sign posts is within the body and how it feels. I reckon I am going to play with this one, thank you!
I agree Leigh, and I crash into things all the time when I’m not being present!
I love this expansion, Leigh, thank you. Yes, perhaps everything we do in life should be signposted and speed limited – oh wait! it is! – it is called our body. All we have to do is pay attention to the signs, and allow time and space to open up inside us.
Nice one Anne, our body is the marker, the speed limit. There are signs every step of the way, they just need to be looked at 🙂
I have found something similar whilst driving. I find it so much more relaxing and so easy just to be with my body and the rhythm of the road, the driving, the passing scenery and other cars when I am driving exactly within the speed limit, or sometimes even a little slower. When I drive too fast I feel the tension often quite subtle in my body and not the same sense of stillness and ease. I had got used to not really going into the detail of how long something might take, so I often crammed too much in which meant leaving home with just enough time to make it where I was going. Not a good way to go. I have stopped doing this for the most part and having extra time I realised almost felt foreign to me. It felt great and very spacious but there was also a residue of tension left over from the past momentum of doing things and I had to adjust to living with more space. Fascinating – to me at least!
This has hit a note for me Josephine. I have calculated how long it will take me to get somewhere and then I leave just that amount of time. Then I’m constantly looking at the clock to gauge where I’m at with my schedule. I drive at the speed limit or just over so that I’ll make it in time. Yuck! When I write it all down it sounds hideous! I like what you describe about just being with the body and the rhythm of the road. Leaving 5 mins earlier to allow for this seems like a great gift to myself. And even if I don’t leave 5 mins earlier and I end up 5 mins late, I think the world would cope, especially since the quality of me would be a little more relaxed with less calculation and control. And I’m feeling that this applies to a lot more than just the way I drive…
I can so relate to this, Nikki. I remember when my kids were young and I was always running late for my life and rushed and stressed, that one day the clock in my car stopped working. It was such a relief, that I never had it fixed! Not having a clock to watch created much more ease and spaciousness in me, and allowed me to rest for a moment while I was driving, even if I was running late. So when I got to where I was going, I was ready for what was waiting there.
And fascinating for me too Josephine! Living by the clock, allowing the bare minimum to drive somewhere was, and still can be my normal. But the times where I leave plenty of time and in fact end up with free time at the other end, does feel foreign to me. I hadn’t connected the dots that it was me not yet adjusting to living with more space that was what was foreign, but thank you, I do now.
Hello Josephine, when you body is tense or anxious I have found you drive differently. I have noticed that if I am tense or anxious my arms are tight and almost locked, my fingers are gripped on the steering wheel tightly as well. From this, how I drive into corners etc is ‘tight’ as well and so there is no flexibility in my driving and it feels this is where accidents can happen. If my body relaxed or surrendered then I am ‘more ready’ and flexible in my driving, where as when I was tense as I said there is a set route I am on. So for me if I am speeding then my body is locked and tense and there is no flexibility in my driving. If I stay on or under the speed limit then my body feels surrendered and more ready for anything.
Great blog Anne M, a little while ago I was caught speeding and had to go on a speed awareness course. What a nuisance I thought, but this was not the case. I learnt so much from the course as to the reasons most speed restrictions are in force and how arrogant I have always been in the way I drive. The stopping distance of a car is greatly reduced when sticking to the speed limit, so by speeding no matter how good you are at driving you are still putting others at risk. What right do I have to put others lives at risk?
“What right do I have to put others lives at risk?” you ask Kevin. I’ve often struggled with rules, driving rules were no exception. I thought they were for everybody else, and that it was okay for me to slightly break them, especially if it suited me. You write about arrogance in your comment too, how arrogant was I. After realising that others get affected by how I drive, my behaviour changed, and the freedom Anne M writes about was my experience too.
Ah I have so acted out the same over the years of driving, getting annoyed at dangerous speeding drivers putting everyone else’s lives at risk… until ‘I’ had to get somewhere and ‘I’ was running late – then that was a different story and I was the one speeding! It’s like this separation from the ‘strangers’ on the road and the people we are going to meet, that there is somehow a difference and one is more important than the other – which is absolutely crazy and not true! Really brings home brotherhood and everything we do affects another.
Great point, Kevin – it is not the going fast that kills or injures us or other people, but the coming to a sudden stop, and the faster we are going, the longer that stop takes and the harder we hit.
Thanks for sharing Kevin I was not caught speeding but I made a course where you learn how to react in dangerous situations by car such as a person ran on the street and you have to break sharply immediately. There I learned about how important it is to stick to the speed limit like you do. So I was very humble after this training and since then I drove more respectful and as you wrote – what right do I have t put others lives at risk.
Anne M so many great points you pose in this brilliant blog. Yes we are all indeed equal and responsible for all choices made. It just takes time and patience sometimes to get to the destination we all will return to and that’s love. Thank you for sharing.
What a beautiful way to see it, Kelly – that our destination is our return to love. If our focus was always on that, our driving experience would indeed be lovely.
It is lovely what you have shared and I can really relate to this especially ‘I had all the space and time in the world, and I was on the road with everyone else, sharing the space with everyone equally.’ Years ago I had an automatic car and when I drove it felt like I wasn’t going fast at all, and where I lived at the time all the roads had different speed limits, because I was not aware of this I ended up getting 9 points on my licence (3 points everytime for speeding) in just under 2 months!!!!! Anymore points and I would have lost my licence. I no longer have these points on my licence but is has made me aware of the speed limits for each road which I adhere to now and feel just what you have shared that in doing this. Equally being the word that stands out for me, as it is not just about me and where I need to get to. I love staying within the speed limit now, there is a steadiness, calmness and presence with this … even though my sister and nephews think I drive like a granny!
And I had the understanding that this sense of stillness and space is always there, living within me, if I allow myself to slow down and feel it. The truth of this sentence I can so easily relate to. I was always rushing through life, having never enough time to fit everything in which was an illusion as long as I kept in the ‘rushing mode’. Well I was an accident waiting to happen, and guess what I did have an accident, thankfully not too serious, but certainly what I needed to slow down and when I did, there was always enough time when I became more organised and more self loving. I can’t rush any more, it feels horrible in my body and takes me out of my centre or stillness. Thank you for sharing your delightful blog Anne M.
I enjoyed reading this honest account of the attitude behind speeding and that feeling above the law. You can really feel how imposing it is when someone comes up behind and over takes impatiently and there is always a relief when that person has passed by, but there is a tension that is left behind. If only we all paid attention to how we really effect others on the roads, it would be an eye opener.
I noticed how ‘cross’ I can become on occasions when other motorists don’t obey the speed limit, tail gate and overtake dangerously, only to find that my trip onto self righteousness is in fact taking my attention away from my own driving. So now I acknowledge that we all have choices, allow them to overtake and at times pull over. I don’t know what is happening in their lives, but I do have the choice to stay present with me and my driving.
Kathie I really agree, there is a huge lack of understanding that is prevalent among us. I know firsthand how easy it is to be judgemental and to not be respectful or understanding of what another person has been through, and it’s ugly.
Thank you Anne M I have always love driving too. A long time ago I had some advanced training and with that came the arrogance of “nothing can touch me on the road”. I wouldn’t necessarily drive over the speed limit, but there was a recklessness in the manner in which I drove and a blinkedness that came with that, like I was the only person on the road that mattered – which isn’t true, we all matter – humans and animals alike. What you say about the law being for everyone equally is so true. The laws are there to support us and if we operate within them they do support us and the result is a very enjoyable experience.
Great reflection for us all, as you shared beautifully the law is there equally for us all and it is there for the safety of all. Why do many of us feel, it’s ok to ignore the law and and speed? Great to ponder on this. It is about planning enough time to get to a destination, without having to speed. When we create this space around us, there is plenty of time to get to our destination.
So true, Amita, it is indeed about creating space, which offers us plenty of time.
This is powerful stuff Anne M. It’s incredible how making a choice as simple as abiding to the speed limit can completely change how your body feels. I feel your blog doesn’t just apply to driving, but the way many people live their lives too – always in motion, pushing their bodies just that bit too far and creating a lot of tension in the meantime. I notice a huge change in my body when I live like that – I get very exhausted and my body often starts running on nervous tension. Recently I’ve been trying to address that, and boy does it make a difference! Although I’m a novice at this whole, ‘stillness’ thing, even after a day of actually being with my body rather than one step in front of it feels a thousand times better!
Really interesting point Susie – Anne’s example does relate to the way we live. It is normal to push your body and be going non stop all the time, but actually slowing down and not travelling at a million miles an hour could have a very profound affect on our energy levels, the way we feel and how we do things.
Great points, Susie and Rebeccca. It is indeed about the way we are, in and with our bodies (including our car bodies!) all the time. The crazy thing is that speeding does not really get us there much faster – but it certainly makes us go faster on the inside! And we bring that raciness with us when we reach our destination. How much more lovely it is to arrive feeling still and spacious.
You raise a great point Anne M and I relate well to what you share about feeling the tension when speeding and the focus this requires and how narrow a view we adopt in the process. To drive within the speed limits offers an ease and releases us from the tension of always looking out for that patrol car and leaves us able to hold a stillness within which otherwise evades us when we are holding tension.
“And to experience stillness within while in motion is a far greater joy than any cheap thrill ” inspiring, thank you.
I can really relate to this blog, about 8 years ago I noticed I no longer minded following the speed limit, that I was ok with being like everyone else – like you share the law was there for everyone else not me! Such arrogance, and I can still experience that with driving and other areas of my life. I love it when the motorway is 50mph and is monitored by average speed cameras so everyone has to go 50, the feeling on the motorway is one of ease and no stress. Apparently we actually get to where we want to arrive quicker when the motorway is 50mph as there is less weaving in and out of traffic and stop starting caused by poor driving. Take out the individual need to be faster etc and we all get there faster I am sure that must be a symbol for how we can be as one humanity evolving together!
‘We actually get to where we want to arrive quicker when the motorway is 50mph as there is less weaving in and out of traffic and stop starting caused by poor driving’ – that’s really interesting Vanessa… I’m too young to drive at the moment, but I’m gathering some great tips from this blog and the comments below!
What a great subject to talk about – Thanks Anne M for this simple blog about speeding.
Once upon a time, I had a flashy red fast car and loved the thrill and yes I did get stopped by the police.
I love what you say about the Law – that it is there for ALL of us to keep us safe and no one is exempt. We are all equals when it comes to the Law and breaking the law has consequences.
I rarely drive these days as I choose public transport and love it. However, when I do drive I carry out the following:
Adjust the seat to my height
Check that I have enough warmth – usually a soft blanket wrapped from waist down
Check the water bottle is in the slot
Stop and pause
Take a deep breath or two
Feel my body by checking my fingers and toes
Then the car ignition goes on and I check all mirrors and adjust
The above guarantees I am in no rush as the space I have created will support my journey and clock watching is just not needed. How can I be late or feel like speeding when there is a natural state I feel that is making sure I have no tension. Speeding and trying to race somewhere has never worked for me and all it did was leave tension in my body.
Beautiful sharing of the loving foundation you set for yourself before venturing out on the road. When I’m in a rush, all of what you choose to do before setting out, I’m doing as I am driving, which just keeps that rushing, racy energy continuing and magnifying as I drive. Very inspiring Bina Pattel!
These are a great hint in how to release the tension in the body that often leads to speeding. I have found the tiniest details do make a difference and driving can be such a relaxing feeling rather than the chore that we often associated with getting from A to B.
In my youth I was sent to a ‘Drivers Education class’ rather than points on my license and there were all kinds of handouts they gave us, but the one I still remember was this round calculator where you put the speed and then the distance, and it would show you the time to get there…it was a circular slide rule calculator made of paper that did not require batteries. It was simple and showed a point to people that had excuses for speeding; If you are going someplace that is sixty miles away and you drive at 70 in a 60 zone… you would get there in 59 minutes! So, doing 45 in a 30 zone and your only going 5 miles… how much time will you save… maybe a second or two?
It’s so true Steve, there’s really no excuse for speeding – as it makes such a ridiculously small difference in the time it takes us to get somewhere but results in such a stress or tension in the body – not to mention an increased risk of accident and total disregard for everyone else on the road.
Thank you Anne M I could really relate to this having always enjoyed speeding in the past and the sense of getting away with it until I got caught a few years ago and chose to do a speed awareness course. Since then I have made a conscious decision to leave enough time to be free to drive within the speed limit and am amazed at how this has broadened my driving experience and made it much less frustrating as you so beautifully expressed it: ‘ to experience stillness within while in motion is a far greater joy than any cheap thrill.’
Thank you Anne M. Sometimes I guess going really fast in a car can be seen as fun, but what fun you have had in just taking your time and not arriving all tense at your destination!
I totally get what you are saying here – going fast is really fun and exhilarating, but driving slower so that there is no stress on your body and you are aware of everything around you and can enjoy that moment feels amazing. Also totally relate to your last point about leaving on time so there’s no need to speed!
Well said Meg; although driving fast can be really fun and exhilarating, it is short lived. Driving slower (or even just within the speed limit) on the other hand allows us to be aware of how we feel, and everything around us, which is amazing. This applies to everything we do in life as well.
Thank you Anne M
I really love your honesty when you say that the consequences of speeding were felt in your body – uptight, tense, always reactive and anxious about getting caught or slow drivers ahead.
It is fascinating how we can create our own stress just by not doing things equally to others.
I’ve only just started driving again, and my partner can drive quite fast, so at first I felt like I needed to do the same otherwise he would think I was ‘slow’ – but it didn’t feel right and I put a lot of unnecessary nervousness on myself.
Now – I keep to the limits, I love it, and he does not mind at all! You are right that it is about allowing enough space for you to get from one place to then next.
I agree that we often make unnecessary tension for ourselves, for instance I walked to school for a few weeks, and when walking on my own it was fine, but once I met up with the other foot traffic, I began to get frustrated at people walking slowly – but only because I had a preconceived ‘I must get there on time’ rather than just relaxing and enjoying the exercise. I feel there are many times in our lives we worry or become anxious about a situation for no reason, and look back and wonder why we were so worked up.
The law is actually something beautiful as you present, it is there to serve us all equally, and keep things organized in our lives. And as I realize it is actually not something the government is telling us to do, we as a society are responsible for them in our everyday lives.
This is a great point, Benkt. It is we who have created these laws – they are there to support as as a whole community, not something that is being done to us – and when we see them in this supportive way, we feel less inclined to break them!
I love what you are saying here Benkt, ‘we are responsible for them in our everyday lives’ and not simply something we feel obliged to abide to (mostly because of the consequences as in paying a fee or losing our license).
Yes great point Benkt – if we all realised that many laws are there to support and keep us safe and serve us all, as you say ‘equally’ so, then self-responsibility would be a natural choice and there would be no pushing the boundaries.
Wow Benkt I can feel what you said in your comment and as Anne also mentioned that these laws are to support us as a whole community – I did not see it like this before so that is for me a good way to look at it. Thanks
Great comment Benkt. We can push against the law when actually it is there supporting us all by asking us to consider our part in the whole and take responsibility for it.
It is great what you share here Benkt, we as a society are responsible for them in our everyday lives. And if we go against it, we actually go against ourselves.
Beautifully said Benkt. All road users have a responsibility to care for themselves and others equally on the road and speed limits are but one of the road rules that keeps us all safe and gets us all to where we need to go.
Dear Anne M, what you write is true – I still love the German system where speed limits tend to be more in tune how fast you can drive on a particular piece of road and some roads have no speed limit. But you are completely right – when you go at 240 there is no stillness, only tension.
240!
240? I can’t even imagine going that speed. Gee there must be a lot of tension being masked by the thrill and excitement of that kind of driving.
240 kilometres an hour = just over 149 miles per hour – still a feeling of being very racy and tension filled!
I wonder how high the accident rate is?
Wow! That’s about 150mph! I’ve been in some fast cars but never that fast. The German system sounds fab! Though I agree even as a passenger there is an anxiousness if you are going too fast – which results in a definite stress on the body.
I have to add here my experience of driving fast in a fast car on a highway that is made to be driven fast on. It is possible to go fast, super fast, and stay with yourself and be relaxed in your body, it simply depends on the car you are driving and the highway you are on and of course your awareness of others. Because when you drive fast you have to heighten your awareness for everybody else around you particularly those that drive much slower in the sense that you stay connected to how fast you are in relation to others. So I would say it simply comes back to stay connected, to stay connected with everybody else and of course super present, and in that sense it is no different to any other areas of life.
Awesome reflection in how driving fast doesn’t necessarily mean we are rushing or in tension, I know what you mean. I have driven fast (well not 240!!!!!!!!) but still felt relaxed and present with my body and what is going on around me, and after not having a car for a while I deeply appreciate driving again.
The only thing to focus on at that speed is the road, I imagine the steering wheel would have finger indentations in it from gripping it so tight. But even we speed at a ‘sensible’ level I know for myself I am holding my body in a tightness and my eyes actually get sore and tired from the strain.
This is a beautiful blog that for me details what divine timing encompasses as well as the divine laws that govern it all. Thank you for sharing such a practical example of these. I really enjoyed reading it.
Beautiful comment Robyn, we so easily abandon the divine rhythm of life and want to speed it up or slow it down but learning to discover that rhythm again restores a lot of harmony to the body. When we truly stop to feel what is the right speed when we are driving for this part of the road, this area etc, we are learning to feel beyond our four wheels and create a relationship with our environment. It can transform the whole experience of being behind the wheel into a very playful interactive activity.
What a great revelation A.M., to feel stillness when driving and to feel connected with all. What comes to mind for me is how easy it is for us to choose certain behaviours to keep us separate These behaviours give us a little kick at the time, kind of like a sugar hit, but in reality what they do is keep us disconnected and therefore far away from the loveliness of our own inner connection. When we can start to see what patterns we are choosing that take us away from our stillness, we can then begin to make choices that support our own connection and in turn connection with others.
I agree Donna – you make a powerful point here about how our behaviours separate us. We put pressure on and divide ourselves based on our choices instead of accepting the equality that is presented. You are right that these keep us disconnected and give us a sort of ego or identity which is not really who we are. And it can be as simple as going over the speed limit ‘just because we can’
There is almost an arrogance that comes with this that stops us from being aware or appreciating others .
Great insight and one that I shall put into practice when I get back – I am looking forward to the spaciousness and ease and whatever else is there to discover and feel when I shall also take my foot off the accelerator. You definitely make some very compelling points worth exploring.
An inspiring and great blog to read A.M.
I love your humility of seeing how equal-ness and brotherhood can be experienced through your new understanding of how and why law applies for all .
“What part of the law says that it is for everyone but me? Abiding by the law comes from the understanding that we are all equal, and that the law is for everyone, equally so; and if we choose to break it, no matter how special we think we are, there will be consequences for us, as there are for everyone else”.
It was lovely to connect to your blog AM – I find that things, such as your blog, that make sense make my life so much more joyful. I used to think that ‘common sense’ sounded rather boring and dull but now I realise it’s the opposite – if I slow down and stay with me and am present in what I do during the day life feels so expansive and simple, common sense things become my amazing day.
So true, Susan. “Common sense” just means the sense or feeling that we share, and when you put it like that, it is lovely!
A great sharing A.M. and shows that true equality extends to everything we do, even how we drive our cars. It shows how easy it is to get lost in our own little bubble and separate from all else. A few years ago I learned a similar lesson. I was caught on a speed camera, not speeding excessively, just above the limit. It showed I had been inattentive, I had missed (not ignored) speed limit sign. I was annoyed at being caught, but the ‘stop’ opened a new door for me. I was given a choice either 3 points on my license or attend a speed training course. I reluctantly choose the latter and muttered all the way to the course. It was the best thing I ever did. I learned about myself, other road users, road signage, road safety and the potential to cause injury or death at different driving speeds. I was shown how to read speed signs and spot potential danger spots. It exposed my weaknesses as a driver: at times disconnected and inattentive. Above all, it made me a more responsible driver. Like you I now drive within the law, not just for my safety but for the safety of all other road users.
Awesome sharing, Kehinde, and a great point you make about the driving “bubble”. It is as if, as soon as we get in our car, we are in a little world of our own, with its own rules, and we can do what we like, and no-one can see us or touch us!
How often do you see someone picking their nose or putting their makeup on or checking themselves out in the mirror or shouting and swearing at people – things they would never do out in public?
It is great to remember that we are sharing the road with everyone else, and that they can see inside the car!
Reading this brings another awareness to why we drive how we do, thinking we are in our own little bubble so it doesn’t matter. However having been on a speed awareness course which is offered to speeding ‘offenders’ in the UK, my eyes were opened in regards to the care and responsibility I have to take when driving so as to be in regard of myself and everyone else on the road. I learnt this was no different to how I walk down the street and so true what you say here “I realised that the law is there, not to annoy me, or to be flouted for the sake of it, but to keep us all as safe as road laws can, no matter what kind of car you have, what the weather conditions are, and how much traffic is on the road.” Thank you A.M. for sharing this understanding.
Very true Julie, we really go into our own little bubble when we get in a car. I used to live next to a very busy road and was dismayed by how fast people would drive past, never thinking once about the local residents. It was an accident hot spot and some of the accidents involved no other vehicle, they were just caused by the driver of the vehicle going too fast. It taught me many things about driving that I had previously been unaware of, in one sense it was similar to the Speed Awareness course, just in a different format! It is a great comment you have picked out of Anne’s article, because the speed limits and laws of the road are there to keep a flow and harmony to our driving that left unchecked would be mayhem. They are there for a reason and when we choose to stop for a moment and feel the reason, then abiding by the regulation supports everyone, not just our selves.
Beautiful A.M ,’ I realised that the law is there, not to annoy me, or to be flouted for the sake of it, but to keep us all as safe as road laws can, no matter what kind of car you have, what the weather conditions are, and how much traffic is on the road.’, I often go faster than the speed limit, as if the speed limit is unimportant and incorrect and that it’s ok for me to ignore it and go faster, I can feel how arrogant and unsafe this is, thank you.
Anne, I loved this blog as it was so real and honest! It also reminded me of a situation way back in my early 20’s where I was asked one day when remarking on the time it had taken me to arrive at my destination, how fast was I driving. I casually answered “Oh, about 140km”. At the time (after the shock that is!), I was firmly but lovingly reminded of the potential dangerous situation I was placing myself in, as well as all others by driving at that speed which at the time, I was totally ignorant about and had not even considered! It was a big learning at the time, and often one I refer to… Although I don’t consciously speed now, I know that I still do at times, and it has made me realise that when I slip into this, I am not consciously present with myself while driving. Your blog has reiterated to me the importance of this connection, and that regardless of whether or not I am in this car, that I can take this space and stillness wherever I go… something I can definitely work on more and develop!
I find it interesting how we like to see ourselves as individuals separate from everyone else and how we think of ourselves as islands where life revolves around us! It is a whole new learning to discover that what I do affects another just as what they do affects me, and if someone is driving in a way that unsettles me then I need to look at how I have been driving too because sure enough there will be many moments where I have been impatient or simply not careful enough. There have been many moments in my life where I have felt upset or put out or arrogant in the thought that other people are simply not being careful enough around me without the slightest thought as to whether I am being responsible and caring around others.. I love how your blog exposes that when we accept we are a part of something equally then everything starts to flow and that a sense of community, connection and stillness naturally follows.
Yes, indeed, Michelle, and comment reminds me of observing the thousands of cars, mopeds and cyclists all packed on the roads in Vietnam – doing their own thing but very much in touch with everything around them. And because of this connection, everything miraculously seems to flow.
Yes, it is so easy to be on our own little island in our car and get upset or annoyed by others. But in fact we are not separate or different, we are matter of factly swimming in the same pool, the same pool of traffic, we are in the traffic and we are part of the traffic so it is actually ridiculous to blame the others for whatever we might blame them for while being part of this whole.
This is an amazing revelation and well worth sharing as something we can all relate to and can feel the joy , flow and ease of driving with everyone in spacesousness and living with a deep stillness inside and all it brings.Thank you for sharing your story and it is something i will remember not only when driving but with everything.
Oh it’s so tempting to speed to get somewhere faster or just because you can. But I agree it does create a tension in the body that I don’t like. Recently I have noticed that how I drive and how others drive is very similar to how I live. If I am rushing that day I will drive rushed, if I am steady and content, I will drive this way too…until I make a choice to choose differently.
Marika I can totally relate to driving reflecting how I am in my day. It’s potentially a dangerous game. I often am surprised there aren’t more accidents given I’d say the people drive how they live so sometimes recklessly.
I know if I’m in a rush I know I need to take much greater care for how I’ve lived to being in a rush rather than continuing to race!
Yes, Marika, the way we drive is a great reflection of the way we are living, and also a great opportunity to slow down and bring ourselves back, if we are a little rushed or racy.
I can see the importance in this article in respecting the road and every other human being on the road, something that is important to note each time I get into my car.
I agree that if everyone on the roads respected each other, the roads may become safer.
Less accidents, no road rage and less stress and tension in the body when driving.
Haha, some parts in Germany there are no speed limits and I still love to drive fast sometimes as long I feel safe and there is just a straight road ahead. But I always check my body as long I feel no tension. I don’t like nervous tension from pushing myself into stress situations anymore, this is gone as I have worked on myself uncovering any needs that I used to have to proof something to myself and to others. My life has changed so much as I have allowed to see the reason to why I had put myself into danger situations that creates tension in my body. Pushing the body hard is a way to run away of feeling the truth and not wanting connecting to it. Since I take my responsibility, my life has changed in many ways, even the way I drive.
I so agree with what you have said here Monika…”pushing the body hard is a way to run away of feeling the truth and not wanting to connect to it” this is one of the things I used to do when I didn’t want to feel my truth.
Ahaa, driving in Germany. I used to have this silly -and I know for a lot of Dutch too- habit, when passing over the border, it was cruise time. For no other reason than there is no limit, let’s hit the pedal. It was almost like this adrenaline, super alert and tension were part of the coolness, part of driving fast. Looking back at that habit, it feels so far from where I am at now. Far more honouring my body, not one inch in me would choose for driving faster with tension increasing per 10 kilometres. It is all about what feels right for my body and make my personal choices in that. Not what is made by a law outside of me.
I love that Caroline – how the body sets the speed limit.
Great observation Marika and one that I have been pondering also. Being in my car has become so much more than getting from A to B, it is a great gauge of how I am living in my day.
I agree Penny. When we rush from A to B the completion of each task becomes the total focus instead of the quality that you complete that task in.
I agree Markia and relate to this tension, that driving fast creates and that it might mimic a tension I carry with me in other parts of the day and in my life.
I agree Marika. The way I drive is a great reflection of where I am at that day and the choices I have been making.
What a great observation Anne that we can arrogantly think a law does not apply to us. How many of us have felt this at one time or another? I know I have. The way you shared about a law being for everyone equally and with a purpose to keep everyone as safe as possible is a revelation and one that is not yet commonly accepted.
Yes, Carolien, it was a revelation to me too! A very humbling one, and a great lesson in true equality.
It is funny how we make the excuses and the criticisms just so that our behaviour can be excused and the law broken. When in fact, as you say, these laws are here for us all equally, something that we seldom accept.
I found it a big learning about brotherhood, as I have often thought I could get away with a small variation of the rules, without actually breaking them. That no longer works for me, i have to treat the rules with the same respect as everyone else, because I am the same as them, we are equal sons of God.
This is exposing my driving behaviour by car or bike. I still have a pattern of behaviour to do it my way. Not as bad as before, but renmants are still there.
I realize now it is pure arrogance to think that at certain moments the rules are not meant for me and I can go my way. I see the deeper lesson here: I separate and I disrespect others, apart from the unsafe situations I create. Great lesson to pay attention to this ‘breaking the rule in traffic’ behaviour!
This is true Carolien. Even if there wasn’t a law for us to choose to abide by or not, we do feel the choice to take responsibility or not. This just goes to show that not only are we ignoring the physical law that exist, but we are also ignoring the internal universal laws that are forever there for us to feel.
Absolutely Vicky Geary, the fact that we have created laws to live by is a strong indicator that we are all aware of a deeper energetic responsibility we all have to each other, nature and the universe. We do all know that everything we do, say or think either harms or heals. We just choose to ignore it.
What you both share is very true Vicky and Andrew, well said.
I have always enjoyed flouting the law as a statement of some kind of rebellion and individuality – more and more I see the ugliness and arrogance of this. This is a beautiful article, with expanding comments, that brings a whole new perspective – the law as brotherhood, responsibility and equality – thank you, Anne and Carolien.
I can so relate to what you say, Matilda – flouting the law as a statement of some kind and the ugliness and arrogance of it, so I used to regard law as something limiting, controlling and unfair, and I never appreciated it as brotherhood, responsibility and equality as Anne so beautifully presents here.
Yes great point Matilda and Fumiyo I am this kind of rebellion as well and it is interesting for me what I chose to not fit in. To see it as an arrogance and that I avoid brotherhood is a new way of looking at it – wunderbar.
What stood out for me is bringing that attention away from oneself and bringing it to ‘the law of brotherhood, responsibility and equality.’ So beautiful and such a great reminder, for every time I get behind the wheel it is not to get me from A to B, but how is my presence on the road impacting the whole. Making sure I am connected with me, focused on conscious presence and not distracted. This does affect everyone.
I absolutely agree Matilda. I have always reacted to a law, any law! I didn’t realize until now how the rebellion (which I have not cared to admit) has always been there but it has been covered over with me trying to be the ‘good’ girl! The arrogance I feel is quite astonishing! To see the law in the way of having regard for everyone on the road and not just myself wanting to get from A to B is indeed a revelation.
This is excellent Matilda, what I find truly profound is” the law as brotherhood, responsibility and equality” I now realise for myself the arrogance and separation from brotherhood, responsibility and equality that I am in when I choose to be ignorant or avoid abiding by the law as I believe I have found a loop hole or nothing will happen. I find it extremely exciting to imagine how the law could be used as a harmonising power that unites us all
Thanks for writing this blog Anne M, what you write makes a lot of sense. I have always been very aware of a tension that I can find in driving when I am rushing to get somewhere. The last trip I did I was less concerned with all this and just drove at a speed that felt best and at the end of the journey I was not as tired as I often have been after 4 hours in the car. I find driving with less drive (pun intended) means I become less caught up in the crazy speeding that abounds a lot of driving from road users who are desperate to get from A-B as fast as they can and as you say I can be more aware of how I feel while behind the wheel.
Love it, Steve – driving with drive vs. being aware of how you feel behind the wheel!
Yes, driving with this tension is tiring, even exhausting, whereas driving with oneself and within the law can be deeply restful.
Now if I fall back into old driving habits, I feel that tension in my body again, as a reminder, and an invitation to go deeper, slow down and rest.
I have never felt this before Anne, but it is so true that how we are in our self is reflected in how we drive. I set off for a journey recently not quite being present with myself consequently leading me to make a wrong turn on a familiar journey, I also found it hard to concentrate which lead to me having to pull over for five minutes to close my eyes and bring myself back to me. Driving can be a wonderful marker for where we are in ourselves. Whether it be racy (literally!), hesitant, aggressive or impatient, like everything we do, it just comes re-bounding back to us.
I’ve had similar experiences with lack of concentration and being not quite present when driving. I agree, its a great marker for where we are in ourselves, also a chilling reminder for our responsibility when behind the wheel, where we hold the power of life and death in our hands.
Sandra I can relate to what you share, I have had similar experiences too. When we are with ourselves, the journey and the drive is beautiful and so smooth. It is a great reminder to really connect and stay present with the body in everything we do.
Very true Sandra , a great marker for where we are at.
I can relate to what you are saying Sandra. Driving is a very honest marker of where you are at. I have also discovered that it can bring me back to myself when I am very present in driving. For instance when I feel tensed about things I need to do in the day ahead I can bring myself back by feeling my feet on the pedals and my hands how they are holding the steering wheel. I than feel how I am sitting in my car seat and if there are tensions I hold in my body while driving. I focus on the road and the traffic around me and just observe how it all feels. It is amazing what a joyful drive it becomes and how at ease I become within myself.
Driving has often been seen, as a way to unwind in the day – to go for a drive and relax. It is interesting how we don’t place as equal importance as cooking over a hot flame as we ‘think’ it is not as dangerous. A simple act of going over the speed range is by far showing a lot more than we care to feel.
I too can feel that driving too fast puts a lot of stress on the body and actually enjoy going more slowly especially on the motorway. Staying present is the key and enjoying driving.
I have noticed that too Vanessa. Our body has its own in built speed limit or tension barometer that clearly shows us when we are driving too fast. I have wondered if that was how the speeds were determined in the first place.
Well said Stephen, conscious presence is key for driving and living!
Yes indeed, Stephen, driving with less drive is a different experience altogether. I have also found that it does not drain the body, but rather can feel spacious and provide an opportunity to connect. The same goes with life in general – if I am not fixated on a destination or outcome I don’t miss out on the loveliness of the journey.
I agree Janet, “if I am not fixated on a destination or outcome I don’t miss out on the loveliness of the journey”. It is so easy to get caught up looking at the end point we miss all the beauty of the journey and the lessons along the way. Focusing on an end point can also be used to justify irrational and unloving choices and so we are less inclined to look after the quality of ourselves along the journey, so the end result is then no where near where it could be. Also having an end result or a picture we do not allow it to develop into more and so have to try to control the situations to get it to fit into the picture – which is an extremely exhausting way of living!
“if I am not fixated on a destination or outcome I don’t miss out on the loveliness of the journey”, that’s very lovely Janet. I have found that if I am fixated on the outcome of the journey of life I am in fact limiting myself, as the journey could take a whole new direction if I remain open to it and not hold onto outcomes I have created for myself.
I’ve noticed this too. If I am too rigid, trying to plan my day, I miss out on what could otherwise unfold.
Beautifully expressed Janet . ” If I am not fixated on a destination or outcome I don’t miss out on the loveliness of the journey.” Being fixated on the the outcome can bring a lot of unnecessary tension and rush to living but if we enjoy the journey so much more opens up.
I agree Janet, when we just connect and not get caught of the destination there is more of a flow in the journey, there is space to connect to one’s stillness and also an opportunity for the body to recharge.
Great point Stephen that when you drive with less drive you’re not as tired afterwards. So very true. Driving can be exhausting but that comes from the way we drive not because of the driving.
I agree Nikki, ‘Driving can be exhausting but that comes from the way we drive not because of the driving.’. I am inspired by Anne’s article and everyone’s comments to bring more attention to my driving, particularly the long drive home after work.
Yes Nicki I agree for me it is the same – it is how I drive – that means I can also drive fast but only if it is allowed.
I agree Nikki and Stephen, – I noticed too that the more present I am while driving the more at ease my driving becomes and the more different it feels, whether driving slow or fast.
That’s an important point Karina, it doesn’t have to be that we drive particularly slowly, more that we are paying close attention to how we feel in our body and not getting anxious in the journey. This makes all the difference. It can be enjoyable to check in so to speak with our body, how certain parts feel, is there tension in the neck or shoulders, is our back comfortable, how our feet feel on the pedals.
So True Stephen. I didn’t used to pay any attention to my body whilst driving and used to end up with a sore neck, shoulders, back and achey legs. Now I pay more attention to how my body feels during the drive, I have less pain at the end of my journey.
Yes, driving harmoniously is a pleasure. You can drive all day and feel great when stepping out of the car.
Yes Christoph absolutely. The power of our own presence in motion makes for a harmonious combo.
Yes Steve, I like how you have expressed that we can “drive with less drive”.
And thank you Anne. I have noticed myself rushing of late and so it reminds me of the need to leave more time to get to where I’m going so the journey there can be a lovely time where I’m with myself and others on the road.
I agree Stephen – by allowing myself to be still and focussed in that stillness, I don’t get caught up in the otherwise drama that can unfold all around me in the seeming rush of the day. I am able to observe other drivers, see and feel where they are at with how close they follow, the expressions on their faces and how fast they are going. I am very conscious to clock now whenever anxiousness enters whilst I am driving – usually to do with time pressure. I know now this is not a truly responsible way to drive, so breathe gently to remind myself there is nowhere I need to be that is greater than the stillness within me.
“I am very conscious to clock now whenever anxiousness enters whilst I am driving – usually to do with time pressure. I know now this is not a truly responsible way to drive, so breathe gently to remind myself there is nowhere I need to be that is greater than the stillness within me.”- This is lovely Amelia and a great reminder to leave plenty of time for a journey to avoid anxiousness.
It sounds a bit odd Stephen, but I am finding that actually taking life in a gentle ease and pace with me actually creates space in my day and I get even more done than I would if I tried to rush rush through it. I suppose the same goes for speeding too..
Beautifully said Stephen. It is true, the less we rush and try to fit time the more space opens up for us and this I am realising is the key to being able to really enjoy and be with every moment life presents to us.