Anyone who knows me well, knows that driving makes me anxious, especially at night.
I’m a terrible passenger and the worst backseat driver, and I’m petrified of driving next to the concrete barriers that seem to be popping up everywhere.
I’m fine driving around my local streets, but on the open road or next to looming concrete pillars, the fear kicks in.
In those moments, I’m taken right back to my late teens.
We were driving along the long, open roads in outback Western Australia in my little red 73 Alpha Romeo Alfetta on our way back from the gorgeous Coral Bay.
It was summer, and the air was scorching. The seats sticky with sweat.
As we made our way back to Perth, without a care in the world, our back tyre blew, and time stood still.
I still remember that moment in slow motion: the screeching of the tyres as our car skidded sideways, unable to stop. The acrid smell of burnt rubber, and then a sudden jerk as we flipped over and flew through the air.
One
Two
Three times
The horror as I saw my then partner’s head hit the ground before we rolled to a stop.
At that moment, still hanging upside down, I clasped my eyes shut. Hard. I thought he was dead and I couldn’t bear to look.
I wanted to hide. I wanted to block out the world.
The sound of his seatbelt unfastening was the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. The relief.
We were both fine, but the memory of those short few seconds has stayed with me my whole life.
But Day 13 of A Year Facing Fear, and I’m ready to look fear in the eye and do it anyway.
If you want to join me on this journey, you can follow along or join the A Year Facing Fear Facebook group.
Until I see you again, my friend. I see you. I believe in you, and you have absolutely got this.
Let’s do this together!
Love, Katia ❤
#ayearfacingfear