A Frustrating Incident

The other day at work, something happened that really frustrated me.

I tried to stay calm at the moment, but as soon as I left the building and got into my beloved Swift Sport parked in the lot, a flood of tears suddenly came over me.

I started the engine, set my destination home as usual, took deep breaths to calm myself, and kept telling myself, “Calm down, calm down,” before pulling away.

I gripped the steering wheel tightly and focused on the clutch and shifting, thinking, “It’d be embarrassing to be crying in broad daylight at a red light—don’t cry now.”

But whenever I let my guard down, the frustration came rushing back, and tears welled up again.

If it had been back when I wasn’t used to driving a manual, maybe I would have been able to focus more on clutch and shift operations. But now, I drive so naturally that breathing and operating the car have become second nature (laughs), so the frustration just kept bubbling up.

I thought, “If I were in my twenties, crying from work frustration might be understandable, but at 40, to have this experience…” I bet the driver behind me saw me crying through the rearview mirror and was probably thinking, “What’s going on!? What happened!? Please don’t rear-end me in a panic!!” I’m really sorry about that.

The Value of a Sports Car

After about 40 minutes of driving while crying, I exited the highway interchange and by the time I got home, I had completely regained my composure. My mind was clear, and my feelings felt as bright and fresh as the blue sky that day.

That’s when I thought,

“Ah, cars really are something special.”

The car is a space all to myself. There’s no one else but me. That’s why it’s such a precious place where I can face myself and let my true emotions show (of course, I still have to focus on driving).

I’d heard before that people sometimes go for a drive when they’re irritated or want to be alone, but I’d only thought, “Oh, they just drive to blow off steam.”

But this time, I truly realized that “it’s not just about stress relief.”

My current beloved Swift Sport is a fun car to drive.

Usually, I feel like saying, “Alright, let’s hit the road together!” and enjoy driving it with joy. The ability to control it just the way I want and the satisfying engine sound bring a unique kind of pleasure that can’t be replaced.

But the other day, my Swift Sport didn’t demand to show off its sporty side. It simply stayed by my side until I felt calm again, and I found myself quietly whispering, “Thank you.” (…Yeah, I know, that’s pretty intense, lol.)

Sports cars and fun-to-drive cars are often seen as impractical hobbies and a waste of money. But I realized that “they hold a value far greater than money can measure.” No matter what others say, if it’s something valuable to you, you should stand proud.

Now, time to work even harder!