Permission to Pass

One of my favorite past times are long road trips in my trustee Subaru Outback.

Ever since I made the decision to go all-in to build a sustainable non-profit in 2016, I've logged tens of thousands of miles on my 2010 Subaru Outback.? My extended road trips last between 5 days to 2-weeks and compile between 1,000 miles to over 2,500 miles on each.??On most occasions there is a business aspect to them.?

I'm based in Reno, NV and have made several road trips to Portland, OR, Denver, CO, Phoenix, AZ, Las Vegas, NV, Los Angeles, CA, and National Parks throughout Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and California.

There is a lot of remoteness between destinations with nothing but open highway between towns and gas stations.? I enjoy listening to podcasts, music and sometimes nothing at all.? I find it therapeutic and oftentimes cathartic.

Speed limits vary from state-to-state with drivers behind the steering wheels of semis, RVs, vans, SUVs, sedans, Class Cs, and 5th-wheels.

I pass most along the open road along a 2-way highway.? The few who pass me probably get terrible gas mileage and I have no desire to chase them.? I'm a faithful of the "under 9 you're fine, over 10 you're mine" rule which means if you're 10 miles per hour over the speed limit, you become more noticeable to highway patrol.??

But there is a collective respect and governance when it comes to passing vehicles along an open two-lane open highway.?

Safety should always be the number one priority; if you're not confident to pass safely, don't make an attempt.? A competent driver, however, with sound judgement can discern the variables when it comes to passing.?

Questions I'll ask myself before passing...

• Can I see around the corner?
• How far away is the oncoming traffic?
• Approximately, how long will it take to pass the vehicle ahead of me until I'm able to merge back into my lane safely?

Passing lanes and dashed yellow lines along the drivers side of the freeway allow for legal permission to pass.? They are there for a reason.??

In the open road of life or business we always have a choice between going with the flow or merging left to pass the next vehicle.? Vehicles stop, slow down, or speed up... but time does not.? Time is always moving forward and you can't get it back. How you choose to spend your time is up to you.?

Do you give yourself permission to pass the habits and beliefs that no longer serve you?? Or do you stay behind that diesel or RV that's going 5 or 10 miles per hour under the speed limit, obstructing your view of the open road and delaying the time you get to your destination?

Give yourself permission to pass.? The clock is ticking.?

• Make a move.?
• Ask for the business.??
• Write that business plan.
• Read that book.
• Take that class.

In celebration of the 10 year anniversary of publishing my book, For A Reason, in 2014, I am very fond of the memories from my first road trip to Denver in 2016 to CancerCon - a conference that addresses the needs, challenges, and opportunities of young-adult cancer survivors.? My 2016 recap of CancerCon here.

Along the way, I stayed in an AirBNB in Salt Lake City, camped and mountain biked in Moab for a couple days, and stayed at one of my best friend's house for a week who lived in Denver at the time.? On the way back I drove through Capital Reef National Park and camped in Bryce Canyon for a couple nights until I finally made it back home to Reno.

?I passed several vehicles along the way.??

Think back to a time when you gave yourself permission to pass.? What did you see in your rearview mirror?

Find a reason to celebrate,?even if it's a self affirmation, "Yep, I got this".

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