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
859 Comments
Absolutely Ariana, the arrogance and irresponsibility of speeding is exposed when we see the affect it has on communities. I’ve been at the ‘other end of the stick’, and having someone rush past in a blur when you’re just about to cross the road is quite scary and unsettling!
Oh wow I know that sort of driving – always a bit too fast… While reading your blog I was wondering why I want to be ahead instead of being a part of the flow and found: I am not really embracing to be a part of this world and society – I want to be something special, one who is about the laws…but we are all in, part of the world, responsible for how it is. To choose to become a part of the flow is creating space in me and around me… yes to take my place and responsibility is powerful because I am not ahead of myself but with me. Feels like I sit down in me and my parts get together…Thats great!
Anne M I can relate to sometimes feeling a tension when I am driving. For me its usually associated with not having left enough time to complete my journey. There always seems to be a rush to ‘get’ to my next destination, even when walking. This blog is great to bring awareness to ‘how’ I do things. It makes such a big difference.
I am usually early for appointments and take my time, but I have had two experiences recently where I have made choices which have potentially made me late. This brings up lots of anxiousness, as I hate to be late, so then I found myself driving too fast, feeling tense, which not only is breaking the law but so dangerous on the little country roads where I live. Strangely enough, when I am late and begin to find myself driving too fast there is always someone that pulls out in front of me and drives slowly, whether it be a tractor, learner driver, lorry, horse and cart or someone religiously sticking to the speed limit, or even worse, unmanned road works in the middle of nowhere! After initially feeling frustrated, I ask myself, could it be that I am being asked to s-l-o-w down, to connect back to my body and take my time rather than remain impatient and potentially putting myself and others in danger, not to mention the hardening of my body. The Universe supports us all the time with signs if we choose to be open to it, and more often than not, if I choose to let go of my being in a hurry I still reach my destination on time, and there was no need to rush in the first place. This is a good analogy for life, drop the impatience, accept myself for where I am, and slowly but surely proceed with my journey.
I can relate to this Anne M in the way that you speak of being fast in your moments. I have been noting myself to take short cuts with the smallest of things in my life and the sense behind it is that ‘I have somewhere else to be.. the next thing’. But when my mind is focussed on the next thing, I stop enjoying the moment I am in and also cease to feel the space I have to not only get everything done that I need to, but enjoy everything about me in the process.
Thank-you for this window into how you drive your car.
Indeed an all too familiar window into how you drive your body.
More often than not when i am rushing to get somewhere in my car i get stuck behind a slow lorry or car. A terrific opportunity to stop, reflect on how racey I am feeling and choose to allow my journey to be what it is and as you well say Anne leave more time to enjoy the trip.
I agree Lucinda. Like you it’s interesting for me to realise when I feel the need to speed on the road other cars do indeed get in my way of where I am going and slow me down. This is something that I realise happens in all that I do when I am being impatient and rushing and the external world seems to conspire to put obstacles and challenges in my way to slow me down. Now that I think about it maybe that’s exactly what needs to happen and I should honour that.
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.
Great blog, I love the part where you mentioned being in stillness while in motion. This is something very incredible, once we apply it to our everyday life. It eliminates stress, creates fluidity, efficiency and ease. It is such a loving and supportive way to move to carry out our everyday tasks.
Thank you Anne M, for speaking out about what abiding by the law actually means. I have never been able to understand why so many people go into a rage about police cameras. The way you describe it is so clear, the law is there for the benefit and safety of us all, why should we complain if we are caught out for taking risks with our own lives and everyone else’s? Breaking the law feels arrogant and stupid to me and I don’t feel good about myself when I do it, whereas the feeling of ease you describe when driving at an even appropriate pace is loving, and I have always felt that when I choose it and experienced that great pleasure you speak of.
I agree, Joan, “I have never been able to understand why so many people go into a rage about police cameras”. To me it just makes sense, if they are driving too fast, then it is their own fault. Yes, the laws are there for the benefit of us all. Unfortunately people are always in so much of a rush nowadays, and don’t allow time to do their journeys.
Thank you Anne. When I drive now it is with a dedicated purpose that I am in the most comfortable alert position taking in everything around me, while being present with me (my body) consistently as possible.
Anne I am such a Nanna when I drive that even your description of how you used to drive made me anxious! Interestingly my family say that I’m dangerous because I often don’t even go as fast as the speed limit. But I just love to take my time and really hate the feeling I get when I haven’t allowed enough time to drive somewhere at a relaxed pace.
I loved your blog, when you described when there was an impulse to drive at the speed limit, the words that came to me were: ”stillness in motion” driving along but in union and harmony with every-body and your body. Thank you Anne for your insight-full blog.
Anne, this is so like reading my own story and relationship with fast cars and speeding… almost verbatim. The main difference being I clocked up a lot more speeding tickets not to mentioned the anger, frustration and rebellion that can be associated with that. I have since those days slowed down and at times felt that great stillness, space and joy that you speak of and it does indeed have an expansive beauty that far exceeds the tension filled, anxiety invoking thrill of driving fast. This blog is a powerful and inspirational reminder for me to be more consist in bringing deeper awareness and grace to my time behind the wheel.
Thanks for writing this blog Anne, I can relate to having a love of speeding and your blog has given me much to ponder.
I found that the blog gave me a lot to ponder on too. Today I had a long drive and I remembered reading this blog and observed how I felt when I kept to the speed limit and at times even slower than the maximum limit. Since I used to get impatient with ‘slow drivers’ I was carrying the belief that if I drive slower than the speed limit I would get annoyed behaviour from other drivers. However that did not happen and instead the journey was far more harmonious with everyone on the road and I felt great within myself.
Great blog Anne M, and one that has inspired me to put my driving under the microscope tomorrow morning. There was a lot of driving involved in the work that I was in for many years, and although I was never a huge speedster, I always seemed to be leaving myself short of time, and thus created the need to speed just a little more than the speed signs indicated, usually arriving stressed and anxious. And I am sure that a little bit of arrogance also made its way into my driving habits over this time. My whole way of driving has changed so much over the last few years, and I now prefer to take my time and enjoy the journey, and of course, leave myself enough time to get to where I want to go; and when I arrive it is with no tension or stress. But I still will be observing my driving tomorrow!
As well as keeping within the speed limit another thing that feels lovely is adjusting the seat in your car, the other day I was wrapping up a present in my car and needed to move my seat back, it felt a lot more spacious so I left it that way : )
That’s a great point Vicky, sometimes I adjust my seat and the shift in my body is felt. I’m then more present with body and my stillness.
Anne M, I was having a conversation with a friend last night who had recently done a speed awareness course and she was describing something similar. She was explaining how a ‘slow’ sign has not been put on the road to ‘annoy us’ but simply because someone has lost their lives and the authorities do not want a second person to lose their life. When we see the road signs like this we can see them as a great support rather than something to irritate us.
After reading your blog yesterday morning Anne, I had a lovely drive to work. I felt so much part of the world, sharing the drive with everyone else on the road, enjoying the sights on the way and time was not an issue. This is definitely a great way to take myself to work and everywhere else I go.
Anne, I could have written this blog 😀 – truly, I know exactly what you were talking about and I had the same realisations like you. I know this kind of playful feeling of, I have it all under control and I will get away with it no matter what I do- I don´t need to follow the rules, because I am too smart and too aware. Until I felt how much tension that caused in my body, I decided differently. My whole driving changed- in Germany there are roads where we can drive as fast as we can and I feel always into, what speed does feel right in my body this day. If I have to focus too much, that no one is crossing my way I slow down. If old behaviors sneak in, I am always open what that situation wants to show me. Really great learning on the street and never ending unfolding.
And what an awesome treat for everyone else on the road to have you with them rather that you racing ahead of them.
Racing ahead of myself there 🙂 What a treat for everyone else to have you with them rather than not… Great feeling you don’t have to be perfect!
Great point, one less place for competition, and one more for equal love.
Great point Matts. During my last trip when I chose to slow down, I felt more present with everyone else on the road and not ‘against anyone’ because no one was in my way, we were all moving together.
I like the feeling of that Golnaz – moving together in a nice flow and with a nice rhythm. I get the same feeling when I go in the subway with lots of people. When I relax into being with all of them it feels like we are one big family travelling.
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!