A First Time for Everything

But why can that be so scary?

Photo by Valeria Zoncoll on Unsplash

Hello and welcome!

Having had the most relaxing break I have enjoyed in a very long time, I wanted to use this reflective time to look at some ‘firsts’ and why we can sometimes feel overwhelmed when trying something new for the first time. I have also decided to change my way of thinking about a couple of things, but more of that later.

When I learnt to drive at the age of 17, I thought it was one of the most exhilarating things I had ever done. Driving gave me independence and freedom, and the open road beckoned. I passed my driving test on the first attempt and was thrilled. Following a road accident in which I was a passenger later that year, in the scorching, record-breaking heatwave of the summer of 1976, I received an insurance payout of £500 and was able to buy my very first car, which I cherished. I have always looked after my cars, keeping them clean inside and out and taking good care of them. My Dad taught me that if you look after a car and get it serviced regularly, it should serve you well. I often think of my lovely Dad and all his pearls of wisdom that he imparted to me during his short time on this earth.

When I was pregnant at the age of 29 with my first child, I can remember being scared of giving birth and worrying constantly about whether the baby would be healthy. Thankfully, after a painful but straightforward natural birth, my beautiful daughter bounced into the world. Sadly, subsequent pregnancies didn’t go full term so eventually, I consoled myself with the fact that I had one beautiful, healthy child and that would have to be enough. As it turns out, she has been more than enough, bringing more joy and happiness into my life than I ever thought possible. Now aged 36, we are best friends as well as mother and daughter. I don’t know what I would do without her.