Driving Gives You a Sense of Freedom and Adventure

Earlier this month, I came across a video that grabbed my attention because it featured a green Mercedes-AMG GT R—that is like candy for a kid, simply irresistible. Before I even hit play to watch the video, I reflected on how much cars and road trips have played a role in my life.

As a young kid in Mexico, I remember taking road trips with family to see the pyramids, the beautiful beaches and to visit extended family. In the U.S., we got a chance to travel cross-country and really take the beauty of the land in one mile at a time. When I studied abroad in France, I drove almost every weekend, sometimes with no set destination.

Once I had my own family, my wife and started driving between Southern and Northern California to ensure our kids got to spend time with their grandparents. Over the years, we went through several cars, all logging more than 100,000 miles.

As I reflected on the many miles I have traveled so far, I realized that hitting the road has always given me a sense of freedom and adventure that are hard to match. Hitting the open road, feeling the wind in your face, spending time with family and listening to music are great ways to make lasting memories.

Whether you get around by station wagon, minivan, compact car, beat up car, or fast car, there is an undeniable truth: road trips have an awesome ability to transport us elsewhere, to take us from the here to the beyond at push of a pedal.

Before I take a long detour, let me get back to the video which was truly inspirational. The video detailed a blind mechanic’s dream of driving a car, his son’s determination to make it happen, and Mercedes-AMG's vision and work to make it all possible.

I have often believed that the most important heroes in our lives should be our everyday heroes. And, after watching the video, I certainly felt like Bart Hickey is the kind of hero who can inspire people to target their impossible and make it possible.

So, I decided to write this short article to thank Bart and the countless heroes out there who take life’s challenging blows and hit back with faith, grit and determination. And, to thank my own dad whose work on cars always reminded me that if you put in the work, you can eventually start any car.

While I shared the official video above, this video from Bart’s auto shop details his life journey and I found it inspiring.

Whatever you are driving and wherever the road may take you, I hope you will always make good memories and that you will be inspired to thrive, no matter what road obstacles you face. Nothing is impossible when we are behind the wheel and the road awaits.