I Don’t Remember the Drive, But I Got There

I have. More times than I can count.

I was behind the wheel, navigated traffic, followed the lights, but somehow, I arrived with no memory of the journey.

It’s a strange feeling… and a powerful metaphor for how many of us live.

We get stuck in the loop: meetings, emails, errands, noise. We’re on autopilot, functioning, moving, surviving, but not always feeling or experiencing.

Just like that drive, days blur into weeks, weeks into years.

Waking Up on Autopilot

That realization hit harder for me, because I know what it’s like to almost lose the road completely.

Living with cerebral palsy and receiving a heart transplant taught me that every moment is a gift, not a guarantee.

And yet, even with that perspective, I still find myself slipping into autopilot.

There have been seasons where I was so focused on what I had to do, I lost sight of why I started doing it in the first place.

Turning Off Cruise Control

What I’ve learned is: awareness is a choice.

It doesn’t always mean slowing down, it means noticing more.

It’s the difference between existing and experiencing, between going through the motions and moving with intention.

So these days, I check in with myself. Whether I’m on stage, sharing my story, or sitting in silence at home, I ask:

“Am I fully present in this moment?”

Because we can’t change yesterday. We can’t predict tomorrow. But we can choose how we show up today.

A Small Challenge for You

Next time you catch yourself drifting, on a drive, in a conversation, or just through your day, try this:

Take a deep breath. Look around. Ask yourself: “What’s beautiful about this moment?”

You might be surprised by the answer.

We won’t always remember the road… But we can remember the ride.