Oops, My Mistake
I had not been driving a school bus but a fews days when I made a mistake that could have ended my bus driving career before it started! I was driving the school bus with a learning permit and my instructor was telling me where to go and how to drive safely. We came to an intersection and my instructor told me to wait to turn right if there was a car coming from the opposite direction.
I do not know where my mind went but it obviously departed for a brief period because I started the turn even though there was a car right where I needed to go! I think my instructor said something like "Okay then" and ran to the back of the bus to try to make sure I did not hit the power pole right on the corner. Meanwhile, my show down with the car was progressing nicely. Because I was big and yellow, they started backing up. I ran over the curb but missed the telephone pole! In just a few seconds, it was all over and we continued safely on our way. My trainer acted calm but I am quite sure he was pretty worried for a brief moment. Afterward he just chalked it up as a learning experience and did not make a big deal about it.
A few days later I was driving with the same instructor and came up to a four lane road and prepared to turn left. I began to turn left and then noticed a car coming at me pretty fast and not too far away. My instructor felt like that was not a good idea and told me so. If I ever start to race school busses, I want to drive that bus because I floored it and the bus responded like a champ! I made the turn without getting hit but I don't think my instructor was all that impressed. As we were driving down the road, I began to apologize profusely but my instructor, now calm, just said that it was a good learning experience.
What I really appreciated about that incident was that, a few days later, my instructor arranged for the same scenario to take place. This time there was no drama and it was a very good confidence builder. It might have been that he was just trying to see if I had learned my lesson and thank goodness I had. I still remember both those incidents today and I believe they are part of the reason that I have become a pretty good bus driver.
I think because I am a bit of a perfectionist, mistakes and I have never gotten along. I hate making mistakes. But the truth is mistakes are part of learning. If we ever manage to eliminate all mistakes (which will never happen), it would most likely be because we have stopped growing and never try anything new.
Another thing that happens when you try so hard to avoid all mistakes is you have way less grace and compassion for those who do make mistakes. I mentioned last week that I totaled my car because I hit someone from behind. A month or two ago the same thing happened to me in reverse. Someone hit me from behind. This time there was less damage but the other driver apologized more than once. Because I had done the same thing, I had way more empathy for him than I might have had otherwise.
Nowadays, my desire to learn new things and grow as a person is overtaking my desire not to make mistakes. I am trying to be more forgiving of myself and others. It is not always easy but it is definitely worth the effort to keep learning and growing and lighten up about my mistakes. Just a thought.
Next week we talk about what we can learn from shopping besides making sure you wear good shoes. Don't miss "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?"
I do not know where my mind went but it obviously departed for a brief period because I started the turn even though there was a car right where I needed to go! I think my instructor said something like "Okay then" and ran to the back of the bus to try to make sure I did not hit the power pole right on the corner. Meanwhile, my show down with the car was progressing nicely. Because I was big and yellow, they started backing up. I ran over the curb but missed the telephone pole! In just a few seconds, it was all over and we continued safely on our way. My trainer acted calm but I am quite sure he was pretty worried for a brief moment. Afterward he just chalked it up as a learning experience and did not make a big deal about it.
What I really appreciated about that incident was that, a few days later, my instructor arranged for the same scenario to take place. This time there was no drama and it was a very good confidence builder. It might have been that he was just trying to see if I had learned my lesson and thank goodness I had. I still remember both those incidents today and I believe they are part of the reason that I have become a pretty good bus driver.
I think because I am a bit of a perfectionist, mistakes and I have never gotten along. I hate making mistakes. But the truth is mistakes are part of learning. If we ever manage to eliminate all mistakes (which will never happen), it would most likely be because we have stopped growing and never try anything new.
Another thing that happens when you try so hard to avoid all mistakes is you have way less grace and compassion for those who do make mistakes. I mentioned last week that I totaled my car because I hit someone from behind. A month or two ago the same thing happened to me in reverse. Someone hit me from behind. This time there was less damage but the other driver apologized more than once. Because I had done the same thing, I had way more empathy for him than I might have had otherwise.
Nowadays, my desire to learn new things and grow as a person is overtaking my desire not to make mistakes. I am trying to be more forgiving of myself and others. It is not always easy but it is definitely worth the effort to keep learning and growing and lighten up about my mistakes. Just a thought.
Next week we talk about what we can learn from shopping besides making sure you wear good shoes. Don't miss "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?"
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