I’m about to make a confession. Right here!
There are many personal things I haven’t opened up about on my personal blog, which is kind of strange as those who are active bloggers love to share about the lives they are living. What’s making them happy or sad, where they are traveling right now, what are they expecting and much more.
But I, on the other hand, hadn’t spilled out much about myself here. Not just on my blog here but also in real life too as even my real-life friends don’t know everything about me, which is bizzare for many. Since I’m an introvert, I don’t feel good about sharing everything with everyone. And yes, it sometimes also annoys those who are close to me.
There are many aspects of my life about which only close family members know and today, I’m about to share one of them with the world!
Before I let you know about it, you may want to ask me why. Why am I letting it out?
Well, honestly speaking, being an introvert has it’s own pros and cons. I know both of them very well because they responsible for what I’m today. I’m happy for what I’m but that’s just me who is saying this. Those who care about me and to whom I love as well, may not agree with my point of view always.
So, for those who I love, I’ve decided to bring up some changes in my life.
Starting up with learning to drive a car!
Yes, that’s right. I’ve decided to learn that one skill which is so much more than just a mandatory thing for humans in today’s world. I know many can’t drive or they hate to drive but driving a car or motorbike is something one can’t live without, especially in my country.
This car driving skill is something that has haunted me for so long. So very much long. Being the eldest among my siblings, I had to learn it and set an example for others. But that didn’t happened as my two little brothers learned the skill before I could. One of them can drive both car and motorbike while the other can drive motorbike only. Even after I graduated from college and started up my professional life, I didn’t showed much interest in learning this skill.
Buying a vehicle for commutting was out of question because of high prices, so I stuck to public transport mostly. My mother forced to enroll in a driving institute and I did took the classes also. But I scared up my mother when I took her out for a test run. Our old family car was Toyota Sprinter of the 70’s, on which my mother also learned to drive. I tried my hands on it but failed miserably.
For several years, even after getting married and becoming a father, I had to rely upon others to drive me around. Not just me, but also Jia (my wife) and Uzair (my son). And yes, you can easily label this as the biggest form of awkwardness, which I felt countless times but due to my introvert nature, I didn’t do anything about it. I knew that this is hurting Jia very much and many times, she said a word or two about it. But I just didn’t gathered up my guts.
But things started to change. My father planned to buy a new car and this time, he agreed upon buying the one with automatic transmission system. Earlier this year, we bought a new car, a Nissan Clipper which is a minicab. With automatic transmission system, I found it much easier to drive than the manual transmission version as changing gears frequently while driving is an art one should master in mid-20’s of his/her life.
Not in the late 30’s!
Jia, Uzair and I don’t have to rely upon auto-rickshaws anymore for driving around. In slow speed and cautious mode, I’m driving them and other family members around the neighborhood, which is pretty exciting for not only them but for me also. Mother was hesitating earlier while sitting in a car driven by me earlier but I took her out too twice in recent days. With heavy amounts of thanks to ALLAH, I didn’t scared it up as I drove with much caution. So, her approval is kind of like big deal for me.
I dreamed about driving a car on my own on empty roads and highways, just like in the movies. Though I’m looking forward to that moment but I’m not rushing for it.
Baby steps, you know. Baby steps!
P.S. Many thanks to Kally for injecting the encouragement in me through her recent post (Conquer My Hatred Of Driving – The Finale), which was powerful enough for this introvert fella to share a big secret of his life with the world 🙂
Added for RDP Friday: SKILL, Maggie’s Throwback Thursday – Learning to Drive
Thank you so much for joining in and telling your story. It is brave of you to share parts of your life that you have kept close to your heart. Congratulations on learning to drive. I am sure it has made life easier for you as well as for your family members.
Blogging has been a wonderful place for me to grow and learn more about others. I hope you continue on your path to try new things that will bring you joy.
I hope to see you join us again soon.
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Thank you very much 🙂
Through my blog, I’m learning to open up about myself, even if in smaller ways. But gaining an insight about individuals living in different countries, and whom I may never met in person, is certainly a big learning experience for me.
I would love to join again 🙂
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I published this week’s prompt today. Feel free to join us.
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https://lssattitudeofgratitude.wordpress.com/2021/09/02/throwback-thursday-2-sentimental-pictures/
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Hammad, thank you for joining us on our Throwback Thursday series. You must feel accomplished by learning this skill. I have found it most interesting to read about those who learned to drive in countries outside my own. I am much older than you and share a lot about my memories on my blog. I hope you will join us again. A new post went up today on Lauren’s blog if you want to join in again.
https://lssattitudeofgratitude.wordpress.com/2021/09/02/throwback-thursday-2-sentimental-pictures/
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Thank you so much, Maggie.
I would love to join once again and thanks for sharing the link 🙂
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We look forward to having you join in!
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It’s a big step to learn even if you are taking small steps on your adventure. Congratulations.
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Yes, indeed!
Small steps are good if one has to travel for long. Or should I say drive for long 🙂
Thank you so much for reading out my post.
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You’re welcome.
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Hi from a fellow introvert! What really struck a nerve with me was your admission of not really opening up even to the people closest to you. I’m the same way and for people not like us it could sound a bit odd. To me, it’s perfectly normal and who us introverts are! 🙂
And yay for driving! I can’t imagine not driving. 🙂
-Kat
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Hello Kat!
You are exactly. Those who consider us introverts as odd will keep on doing so, even if we do something that is not related to our nature. And it is also good to take an extraordinary step once in a while for those who love us. As they matter the most in our lives. This is the sole reason behind my sitting on a driving seat.
Thank you so much for reading out my post. Have a nice weekend 🙂
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My mother never drove because she was too nervous. She did take driving lessons two different points in her life, but she always couldn’t get herself to move forward. Congrats for doing it.
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My mother learned to drive her kids to school as our little sister was very young to use public school bus. I hesitated for so long in learning to drive but now, I’m geared up for it 🙂
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Have fun!
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Having fun I’m with extra level of cautiousness 🙂
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Woop Woop! So happy for you dear Hammad. Don’t apologize for who you are. Being introvert is not a flaw 😉 Big hug, XxX
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Yes, you are absolutely right. Being an introvert isn’t just about hiding your true nature from the world. There’s more than just this but many in my part of the world, even who are close to me, don’t consider it that way.
But the encouragement I’ve received from you and others on this post, is something I can cherish about for the rest of my life 🙂
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Well done Hammad both for opening up and for learning to drive, they are both actually BIG steps, well done! And I bet your family is very proud of you, it takes guts to do these things later in life. Great example for your son …
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Thank you so very much, Kate 🙂
My parents are very much relieved that I can drive around myself for errands or outings. No more dependency on others, you know.
Uzair is as much happy as you can think. He won’t let me go without him, unless I promise him something in return. And that something should be big 😀
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lol how delightful that all your family gets so much benefits 🙂
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😀
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Congratulations Hammad.
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Thank you very much 😀
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Awww… I’m happy that my story encourages you! Wonderful that you made that baby steps. I’m with you on driving here. Rather walk than drive, haha. Maybe one day, both of us will one day take our chances and do road trips to see the world.
Thank you for sharing my story on your blog.
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The moment I read your story, I thought it is now the right time to let the world know about mine also. You paved the way 🙂
I still love to walk though and won’t mind using my feet for their natural purposes for an errand outside home. But when there’s a need, I drive up.
Oh, a global road trip! That would be something, you know 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by and reading out my story.
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I love your story too. You spoke volumes about your experiences and that’s a great way to share. I love to walk but the paths here in Malaysia are not suitable for walking without tripping. A shame really.
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Thank you very much, Kally. Responses I’ve received on this post are nothing but phenomenal, making me a very happy person 🙂
And I’m you will find some scenic spots in Malaysia where you can walk as freely as you want to.
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Go for it, Hammad! I didn’t get a driver’s license until I was 24, which is very late in the US so I understand. I used to be embarrassed to admit it. I imagine there are so many other things in your life that you have accomplished, that driving will just add to the list. 🙂
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Thank you very much, Marie for encouragement. And yes, you are right!
That list is very long and I’m wondering what should I accomplish now 😀
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Congratulations, I now drive more with my bicycle instead of car. Moving is the key-word overall for seeing what is behind the next corner.
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Thank you. Honestly speaking, I love to ride bicycle as it makes me feel free. But not everything can be done on two wheels, powered by pedals. Especially in my country 🙂
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Wow, good for you Hammad. One, for opening up and sharing more about your personal self and two, for achieving what you know will make your life better. You know what they say, better late than never! Well done to you. 🙂
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Thank you very much, Miriam 🙂
Letting out something from deep inside is good indeed and I like this.
I’m cashing out my experience of sitting next to the driver and observing the art from past years of mine, so it is helpful 🙂
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I’m sure it is. 🙂
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