The Gratitude Project – My Right Hand On The Steering Wheel

I am grateful for my right hand on the steering wheel.

Why? First, my right hand is instrumental in driving my car. I used the fingers of my right hand to push the button on my car key to unlock the door. When I get in, my right hand inserts the key into the ignition to start the car. After I have started the car, my right hand adjusts into drive gear so I can step on the gas and move out from my driveway into the street. My right hand, along with a little help from my left hand, guides me to my destination by skillfully moving the steering wheel to the right or left.

These are only a few of the steps that my right hand does that I take for granted everyday. Once I broke it down, I was able to gain a new respect for all the things my hands do while driving my car. And as I drove from my home to meet a friend so we could go for a walk along the lake boardwalk, together, I felt my spirit rise in appreciation of all the other things that were going on around me. Most of them without any help from me whatsoever.

I noticed the blueness of the sky through my windshield. And I saw the fluffy white clouds skimming across this heavenly blueness.

I was grateful for the cars moving along beside me in orderly fashion and not running into me. Everyone on their own mission to work, to play, to negotiate, to sell, to buy – whatever.

I looked back at my right hand and I saw, as if for the first time, the silver ring on my index finger and I began to relive the memory of when and where I bought that ring, who was with me, and how the day and evening rolled out after that purchase.

Would you like to know? It was fifteen years ago. I was in Nice, France. My workmate and friend, Sabine and I had an afternoon off after working at a medical conference with intensely focused Oncology physicians and scientists from all over the world.

We sneaked off for a much-needed break, by ourselves, to explore the city and do some shopping. We found a little street, tucked away from the touristy areas, where it was obvious the locals shopped. It was lined on both sides with jewellery stores, clothing boutiques, cafes, and family owned restaurants.

I bought my ring in one of those shops and Sabine bought a gold bracelet. After this, we celebrated our purchases in one of the restaurants with a delicious meal of “boeuf bourguignon” and finished off with an espresso and my favorite dessert, my kryptonite, an almond croissant, made only the way the French can.

My right hand with the sliver ring, brought me all those memories today.
Plus it was instrumental in taking pictures of blue sky and clouds, on a perfect summer day on Caroline Street, in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

For all these things and more, I am truly grateful today.