"One drove the wrong way down a street, the other couldn't park.
You're up."
I hurriedly put on my coat and paid for my chamomile tea. Although I
felt less nervous than the last time, my stomach was still in knots and I was
trying to call on every technique I knew to calm down.
The examiner was still talking to the others when I got to the car. They
weren't crying at least. Once they'd got out I slipped into the front seat, my
instructor beside me, examiner in the backseat.
"When you're ready," the examiner said.
I turned the key, lowered the handbrake, changed to first and started to
pull out of the car park. Beepbeepbeepbeep.
I stopped to check the beep, which was showing I hadn't lowered the
handbrake enough. Damn it. I pushed it down at once, before moving on, hoping
the examiner wouldn't take it too seriously. It happens to everyone, doesn't
it?
I thought my exam went smoothly. I didn't feel like there were any major
problems. I stalled the car twice in my first exam, but this time I felt
comfortable, despite the traffic on the motorway exit. After the allotted
twenty-five minutes he told me to stop. I turned off the car, feeling nervous
but pretty certain I'd passed.
And then he launched into his speech. He mentioned the handbrake...he
mentioned I could have slowed down more at one of the zebra crossings.... he
mentioned I had lost security distance at the motorway exit and he would have
given me a point in my favour if I had not exited at all*. (*I don't believe
this for a minute).
As he went on and on, I realised he couldn't look me in the eye. I
thought, if he at least looks me in the eye, maybe I can do some Jedi mind
trick! But no, he didn't. He droned on and on, while my instructor sat in stony
silence in the passenger seat, looking like he planned to reverse over the
examiner if he ever finished his lecture and got out of the car.
I don't think I really believed I had failed until he said the word. I
stepped out of the car and swore loudly, before turning into a polite Brit and thanking the examiner.
I got home and I couldn't do a thing. I felt really miserable. Exhausted too.
At some point I gave up trying to work and just went and lay in bed fully
clothed until I fell asleep for two hours. I switched off my phone. Luckily I
hadn't told hardly anyone so didn't have to deal with the chirpy, Sooo? messages.
The next day I received an email from my agent. She said she didn't like my latest idea for a novel I'd sent her. An agent writing to you on a Saturday - that never happens!
I hadn't recovered from my feelings of failure from the day
before, so this just pushed me further into the ground. Not only could I still
not drive, my writing career felt like it had stalled. Perhaps I should give it all up
and focus on my kids, I thought bitterly. Oh, wait, I couldn't because I hadn't managed to make any
yet! In that too, I was a complete failure!
I could observe these vicious thoughts, which meant I wasn't a complete slave to
them. I have a lot to thank my parents for. They brought me up on an alternative diet of meditation and spirituality that was tedious at the time, but has come in handy over the years. I've got a lot of tools in my back pocket to deal with
failure, I just need the strength to reach for them.
It's Monday now and I'm still trying to get my act together. My Dad told me that after his own father failed his first driving test he never tried again. He said how you deal with failure shows your strength. I'm not going to give up learning to drive. Not just because it would be a huge waste of money. I'm not giving up
because I know I'll get my license in the end. The same way I can't give up writing,
because I know, if I keep going, eventually it will pay off.
I have been here before, many times. We all have, haven't we? I know this feeling of failure won't stick around forever. It
will pass. It always passes.
If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading. - Lao-Tzu (Chinese philosopher and writer)
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5 comments:
Keep going, Emily. You may fail at some things sometimes, but YOU will never be a failure. Remember that saying - you're only a failure if you don't try!
One day you'll have the kids are squabbling in the back seat when you are driving to the next big author event promoting your bestseller book!
You're so encouraging @Lindsay - I wish I could reach out from my island to yours and give you a big hug! Thank you so much. I feel much more positive already. XXX
Hi Emily-
I just wanted to send you a big hug- I know that feeling so well. It took me 5 attempts to pass my driving test- my second one I failed because some idiot clipped MY wing mirror!
But I did pass. And it felt brilliant. Suddenly the other 4 times didn't matter.
You're a brilliant writer - I loved #PleaseRetweet - don't let one of those weeks stop you doing something that brings so much joy.
Here's to an awesome week ahead. Laura xxx
Thank you so much @Laura! This isn't the first time you've given me a boost and I really appreciate it. I could never actually give up writing :) I love it so much. When I'm not working on a new book I feel so restless. I feel like I've been closing in on a new idea, but it keep slipping through my fingers. I think this is how I work though. I write nearly half a book, stop, chuck it away, then realise what I want to write. Thanks so much for the support X
PS. I can't believe they failed you for clipping YOUR wing mirror! I paid for another two test today (they come in two's). It was very painful handing over my credit card, but it will be worth it in the end!
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