For almost my entire driving life I drove a standard. Back when I got my license, road tests were not done on automatics.
This spring that changed. My husband took over the car I had been driving, and we got me an automatic. For a day or so, I fumbled for a gear shift, but I soon adapted.
This morning I drove the standard for the first time in three months. As I approached a red light, I slowed down to change lanes and promptly stalled the car. I had forgotten about the clutch. Fortunately, the road was quiet and nobody witnessed by my lapse.
This may seem like a mistake, but it signals good news. The fact that I was able to adapt in a day or so to driving without shifting, and then, after the one slip this morning, re-adapt immediately to the standard shift, shows how quickly we can alter our habits.
Though some experts disagree, many now say it takes only 21 days to completely automate a new behaviour. On this, I agree with the naysayers. We can change in far less than 21 days, as my recent experience with the two cars demonstrates.
Instead of bemoaning how hard it is to change, we should delight in the speed with which we can learn and automate new habits whenever we choose to do so.
Some might call this view pollyannaish, but I believe the amazing adaptability of humans is is far greater than we realize--a capacity we can learn to use with conscious awareness and positive intent.
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