My daughter texted and asked if I would come watch the kids so she could take her eldest to school. Her husband was quickly running the van to the gas station. The tire pressure was low and he was going to fill it up. My daughter and her kiddos were headed to Philly for a field trip with friends from their homeschool co-op. Everyone was so excited!
All was good when the van arrived back home. Fully dressed and pottied, the kids scrambled into the van along with their friend. Excited chatter, clicking of the buckles, and a wave goodbye.
Shortly after, I received a text from my son-in-law. Would I be able to meet him at the tire shop to pick him up. What?? As I walked over to the house, my daughter was in the house with the kids.
“What happened?”
“I got a little ways down the road and the tire pressure gauge sensor came on and some other lights. I was concerned about getting to the city and having a complete flat.”
Good decision to come back. The van was dropped off at the tire shop and my SIL and I drove home. They’d check the car at 2p. Not 30 minutes later, another text. Would I be able to take him back to the tire shop?
“So what happened? This is a really quick turn around.”
“There’s nothing wrong with the tire, it’s the sensor. It’s broken.”
Driving by myself back to the house, I was reminded of a session with my counselor years ago. We’d been talking and I told him I was a bad cook. He asked why I thought so. I told him my husband had told me so over and over again. It was stated so often, it must be true. So, I’m a bad cook.
We sat for a moment and then the counselor looked at me and said, “just because HE says you’re not a good cook, does that mean it’s true?”
BAM! Such a profound statement. I had never questioned that “truth” before! I liked working with food. I wasn’t passionate about cooking but I did enjoy it. No one had died from the meals I made but HE said I was bad at cooking so, it had to be true.
Just like the tire today, there was nothing wrong with me or my cooking. My “sensor” was broken and I was believing incorrect information.
The counseling session was a wake up for me. I began, slowly, to question the “truths” I believed about myself. Was it really the truth? Was I really that person? Or was my sensor broken and I was being given false information. The journey of self-discovery, self-questioning and healing has been long and arduous. Ugh, some days have been really hard. The journey isn’t over yet but the confidence I have gained deciphering false “truths” from real “truths” has certainly helped, especially when I face another “truth” and start the deep dive.
I wonder sometimes if our reluctance to achieve more or pursue a dream comes from a “truth” that someone has told us. Are we believing the information of a broken sensor?
Perhaps the message from the broken sensor gives us the excuse we need to back out of a pursuit, an excuse for not facing the “hard” truth.
I just know, last year was filled with broken sensor messages. I also know, I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t done the hard work of fixing the sensor! Sure, kick the tires but more than that, make sure your tire sensor is giving accurate, truthful information. Your dream awaits!
