Let’s just say this: if backseat driving were an Olympic sport, I would’ve taken home the gold by Day 3 of our 45-day road trip.
My husband and I—plus our furball co-pilot—recently hit the road for a long, winding adventure through California and beyond. I expected to overpack. I expected to piece together meals from gas station shelves. What I didn’t expect was the deeper lesson waiting in the passenger seat.
I’m holding on tighter than I thought—not just in the car, but in life.
Tighter to outcomes. To plans. To trying to make sure the people I love are always comfortable, safe, and happy (which, by the way, is exhausting and impossible).
By Day 10, the message was loud and clear:
Let go, Amanda.
Let go of needing to control every outcome.
Let go of rehearsing what might go wrong.
Let go of the anxious inner monologue that insists that if I don’t hold everything together, it will all fall apart.
And here’s the kicker: the more I let go—really let go—the better everything got.
I laughed more. Breathed deeper. Connected more fully. Trusted—myself, my people, the process.
So if you’ve been white-knuckling your way through life lately, this is your permission slip:
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You don’t have to predict every twist and turn.
You can breathe. Trust. Release.
P.S. If this message struck a chord, I’d love to invite you to join Rooted Deep, Rising Strong—a 3-part group coaching experience designed to help you loosen your grip, reconnect with what really grounds you, and grow your confidence from the inside out.
It’s not about being fearless. It’s about showing up rooted, even when life feels uncertain.
Click here to learn more or save your seat.
Let’s grow together. 🌱
P.P.S. Here’s our boy, Bingo. By far the easiest-going, most adaptable passenger on the trip!
