Cars are great therapy in many different ways.
Some people love driving and it makes them feel really good to be driving. For others a stick shift and the ability to drop it down and drag it out is sheer heaven (yes, that’s me).
You can laugh and cry in your car, work out anger and figure out a problem. You can sing (loudly) while blasting your radio (not as pretty to those outside if done in a convertible). You can argue with yourself or tell people to take a long walk off a short pier in complete safety (well, unless it’s by cell phone- then don’t do that!).
Some people were never ever meant to be passengers.
My therapist
Then there’s the therapy of rebuilding a car. Body work and painting. Fiberglassing, sanding, grinding, oiling, painting…
Restoring or Modifying a car. Taking an engine apart and lovingly putting it together again.
Getting a car running that hasn’t run for years upon years.
And never underestimate the psychological satisfaction and value of cleaning a car. Washing, waxing, polishing, detailing, buffing, caressing and yes, finally just standing back to admire without touching. Betcha smiling!
Elbow grease for the soul I say!
How long can you wait to go from the admiring to the driving stage? Everyone’s different.
For me it’s about maybe a few minutes. I want to be driving that silky, shiny beautiful machine.
Anyway, fact of the matter is that having a car that is a little bit more than conservative and practical is understated as therapy. It’s no less expensive over the long run than a therapist and unless you have really difficult issues to deal with (then of course you should have a therapist too) it soothes the soul. Cars satisfy the senses. Maybe people that don’t care about cars don’t understand that.
A car that you truly enjoy is a fantastic best friend for oh so many reasons.
They don’t talk back, stab you in that back, cheat, steal or lie to you. They don’t ask a million questions (stupid or otherwise). And they don’t tell you what you want to hear…
Your car is just there for you twenty four-seven for years upon years if you take care of them the way you wish you were taken care of.
Had a massage lately? Anyone draw you a bath and lovingly rub you down? Polish and feed you without ever asking for anything in return?
No? Yes (you lucky bastard)?
Reasonably good day today. Spent most of it washing the car, cleaning the wheels, toweling it dry, then applying paint sealant, buffing it off (oh God it was so gorgeous reflecting the clouds) cleaning the dashboard and windows… then just smiling. Ha.
Still smiling. My car makes me smile.
I’ll vacuum it out tomorrow… that’s the one part I don’t care for all that much.
; )
Oh and happy hour… that was fun too!
Gonna kick back now, make a cup of tea and watch some tv.
Don’t watch much tv but I feel like it tonight. No idea what’s on.
I feel one of those political posts coming on… so far trying not to give in. Hmm.
G’night
Laura
