The Most Difficult Thing

What is the most difficult thing you have ever done? In my world, I am not required to be a genius; yet one skill had eluded me for most of my adult life. In that aspect I should be considered a moron, for this was a task a former boss of mine used to describe as something "even attendants and cleaners in the hospital can do" but which I could not (I mean no disrespect - I appreciate what the hospital support staff do). I have been a Mensa member since my teens; I perform medical procedures; I am a Bejeweled hi-scorer but I COULD NOT DRIVE A CAR! I had in my possession a valid driving licence which was practically useless. I did not think I could reverse a car out of the driveway even if there was an emergency. So what went wrong? I passed my driving test (though it took 2 attempts), zipping through PJ at lunch hour in a Proton Iswara. After obtaining my licence my dad would take me driving around the neighbourhood, outings that sent him into panic mode and which forever cemented the belief that I could not drive a car. Truth be told, driving terrified me. I did not feel in control - I could not shift the gear while looking at the road, and if I looked at the stick shift during shift change the car veered off its path. It was just so difficult for me! Somehow, somewhere there must be neurotransmission dysfunction. Psychomotor dissociation. Uncoupling of intention and execution. After that I never wanted to try again. It did not help that I always had someone to drive me around; first my father, then my husband. Dream car? Never had one. Petrol price up again? Not affected directly. Beneath this blissful ignorance was a sense of failure. My wings were clipped; I was pathetically dependant. Today I am driving again; I have been driving for the last 5 months. Let just say circumstances dictated that I drive or crawl to work. So I got myself a new car - my first car! I will always still be a psychomotor retard, but haven't you people heard of the wonderful invention called automatic transmission? I took intensive refresher lessons (my "instructor" was none other than my husband who was as hysterical as my father; fortunately our marriage survived my driving) and on the 1st of June 2006 I made my solo trip to work...intact! Pure relief spilled from every pore in my body and I called my husband at work just to announce that I had made it (something in the spirit of look-ma-I-am-walking)! I know this is trivial to many of you but this is a BIG deal to me. It is no more the act of operating a vehicle than it is one of overcoming your doubts and fear. Today I am driving, secure in the knowledge that in an emergency I am able to send someone to the hospital. Today I am driving; who knows what I can do tomorrow? This is how powerful it is, this lesson that things are difficult only if you believe them to be. My sister also took up driving again this year, many years after obtaining her licence. She put it succinctly - emancipating. 2006 is a good year indeed for the women in my family.