The other day, I tripped in my office/dressing room on the sling for my arm I’ve been wearing since my shoulder surgery. I took the sling off to change and put it on the floor. I went to unplug my phone from charging, turned around, took a few steps, not looking at the floor and down I went! My ankle twisted on the plastic connector for the sling, and I hit the floor with my knees and instinctively put out my left arm to break the fall (my right arm not quite six weeks out of surgery), and my head whacked into the door.

I cried and prayed I was okay and that there were no more injuries or problems! My husband ran upstairs to see what happened. I was so fearful that I really hurt myself. I got icepacks on me and he calmed me down and said it happens to all of us when we take our eyes off our feet when something is in the way. He also said to think of the lesson. I did learn a lesson to never leave anything on the floor that could pose a trip hazard. I was warned, thankfully. I’m sore today, but I’m okay.

My thoughts went to If we didn’t live in this house, this wouldn’t have happened! I blamed the size of this house, the fact that I was wearing a sling and my life situation for the fall.

As I write this, I realize how destructive those thoughts are and how harmful they are to me – and how much I apparently believe that I lost control of my life. I have not been driving the bus. I allowed myself to be a passenger for many different drivers. I was a bystander in my life, feeling powerless to make any kind of real change.

Wow, right?

I’m writing this today for myself and others who aren’t driving their bus. It’s okay to remove the current driver and thank him or her for their service, and get comfortable in the driver’s seat. We don’t need them anymore.

I know it’s scary to get behind that big wheel, navigate through the streets of life, and figure out where we’re going, but we know how to be happy. It’s just a matter of trusting and believing in ourselves.

Those who have given up and prefer to sit in the back of the bus and let someone ride them around are missing out on a better quality of life. If you want the easy way out, depending on other people for your happiness, you will be disappointed and hurt. That’s not a happy life.

Living a better life is hard. Only when we have a vision of a better life for ourselves and then put in the effort to get it will we live that life.  And, yes, I know the many distractions today with social media can make us feel good at the moment , but too much of that distraction can keep us from getting behind the wheel and being productive in our lives.

It happens to me. I get sucked into scrolling on social media, and an hour goes by that feels like minutes. Then I feel bad I wasted time looking at stuff that either distracts me from my goals (like watching someone create recipes on a Facebook reel), and sneakily makes me feel overwhelmed that I need to do, have, and make things. It’s exhausting!

The idea for this blog is simple: What you put into your life, you get back. That is the law of life. You can’t expect others to know what’s best for you and do it for you. Get them out of the driver’s seat! Take charge of your life! It’s okay to let people know what we like and who we are and ask for help if we need it, but ultimately, we are the caretakers of our lives. It’s never too late.

Thank you for reading. How do you want to better your life? Please share in the comments. I’d love to engage with a community of like-minded folks who want to better their lives.

To Driving the bus,

Francesca