The other week, as I was pulling out of the garage on my way to my youngest daughter’s Kindergarten Parent Orientation Night, I failed to look behind me, and backed right into the babysitter’s car. I couldn’t believe it! I am literally always so careful to not only check behind me, but also to glance at the screen on the dashboard that has a rear-view camera to show me exactly what is behind me. The sitter was an absolute doll about it, and I know that these things happen every day (although it was my first time ever in 24 years of driving that I hit anything!), but what I got most out of the experience was very enlightening to me.

First, after the initial momentary surprise that I hit another car, I was extremely calm. Of course, I felt horrible that I damaged the sitter’s car, and I wasn’t too thrilled that ours was slightly banged up either, but I didn’t get angry at myself or make it into a huge deal. Accidents do happen, and I chose to calmly deal with how to handle the situation. I honestly don’t think that would have been my response a while ago, which showed me my growth in my journey of self-awareness. In a weird way, this little fender-bender was a sort-of gift – an opportunity for me to see that I am “walking my talk.” And as my Dad always used to say, “These aren’t real problems, just inconveniences.” My kids, the sitter, and our puppy were safely in the house, and no one, including me, was injured.

Secondly, hitting that car literally jolted me back into the Present – the Now. I know I was distracted (i.e., turning down the radio and wondering why it was turned up so loud, thinking about how busy the parking lot at school would be if I didn’t get there soon, etc.), rather than checking carefully before I backed up, as I normally do. I absolutely adhere to the concept that, “You can’t get where you want to go in Life by looking behind you,” but one caveat to this thinking is when you’re on your way to a school meeting and backing out of your garage! Seriously though, it was a very vivid reminder to me to remain present throughout my day and life. If you don’t, you may miss important details and opportunities along your way… or smack right into them when you least expect it!

In coaching, there is a saying that coaches are often their own best clients. Well, this morning, I was a living, breathing, poster-child for a mom who needed to restore balance and make herself a priority in her own life. I got up bright and early to take the puppy outside and smiled at the thought of all the time I had to savor the quiet house before the kids got up and I got ready for a morning meeting nearby. That vision of peaceful morning bliss lasted for about 30 seconds before the kids were up, the waffles were in the toaster oven, and I was somehow left with less than 30 minutes to shower and get out the door. At least the babysitter who I hired for Wednesday’s so I can have one focused workday per week during the summer was on her way… or so I thought, until I exited the shower to tears from my daughters over how the sitter had just called-in sick and now their plans for the day were ruined. Their plans?!! No time for thinking about what wouldn’t get accomplished now in my day – I had 5 minutes to flat iron my hair and drive to my meeting before it started without me. Of course, I was only 2 minutes into my 4 minute drive before my cell phone rang and my older daughter was still lamenting about how she would now have nothing to do all day. (Considering the upstairs hall closet brimming with games and crafts, the over-stuffed playroom, the puppy waiting to be played with, and a little sister by her side, I didn’t quite understand the despair and desperateness in her voice!) Meanwhile, in my rush out the door, I had forgotten earrings and the only thing close to lipstick I had in the car was a nasty smelling tutti-fruiti princess lip gloss my 5 year old had left there over a month ago!

At that point, as I walked away from my crookedly-parked-too-quickly minivan and into my meeting, I just had to laugh, as I knew just how I would introduce myself today – as my own best client! Hey, I’ve made a lot of progress, but self-growth and self-care is an on-going process… “At least I’m enjoying the ride!”