In our lives we collect many experiences. If we are lucky, they are educational, useful, pleasant or, at least, not harmful and damaging.
If we are unlucky, our experiences turn us into sourpusses or, if really unlucky, into the eternal optimists and overly friendly, annoying people.
Thankfully, most of us end up in the middle somewhere and muddle through life to the best of our ability.
Our outlook is based on these experiences, the way we view the world or shape others’ view of it.
And then, something comes along which changes everything and restores our faith and belief in the everyday existence; makes it tolerable. Something which is unexpected and gets us by surprise and says, in a way: hey, you haven’t considered this. Or, it says, you forgot about this. Maybe you stumble upon it. Maybe it was put in your path to find. Who cares, really, how you find it; the important thing is that it is found
What is this Holy Grail, you ask?
I found it in the California desert south of Palm Springs on a hot day when the temperature rose to 47C (117F). It was presented to me in the well-known German car manufactures’ (hint: starts with a “B”) performance center.
It involved performing driving exercises in expensive cars at high speeds. Sliding; breaking to a complete stop in a second or two; making ninety degree turns at high speeds; driving around short and long tracks etc.
It was exhilarating. It represented freedom and getting in touch with the senses we aren’t in contact with (or, even, aware of) each day. How often, on a daily basis, do we depend on our reflexes? Out there, in the desert, on that day, it was important to have and appreciate them.
The feeling was primal, the quicker you reacted the quicker you’d get through that turn; the quicker you’d stop; the faster you’d get away from someone chasing you or getting closer to someone you were chasing.
All of that was accompanied by white smoke and tires screeching, the sounds of the equipment performing at its maximum (and making you think the world around you is collapsing), and, at least in my case, the feeling of vertigo and needing to throw up. The G forces are trying on us professionals used to sitting in offices, advising clients on the various financial and legal matters.
Keeping a super high-performance car on the track or upright, for that manner, is like being chased by a herd of hungry elephants in the jungle or wherever it is that they live. It is accomplishing something challenging and coming out of it unhurt and, consequently, a better person. Braver and more resolved.
Maybe, even, a better lawyer or accountant. Who knows!?
by Mike Djordjevich
Address :
321 High School Road #303
Bainbridge Island
WA 98110
USA
Telephone : +1 661 645 5572
Email : mike@mdj-cpa.com
Website : http://www.mdj-cpa.com