As one who has experienced significant Change in the past few years, one would think that I would be used to Change. But not. While I know at a surface level that the only constant is Change, I still struggle when I am experiencing Change, especially major Change. Of course, you might be thinking, why would I not know that?

Since I started my business in 1992, thirty-two years ago, I have been a speaker and consultant, a teacher and a student of the subject of Change. I know the research on Change, or at least, much of it. I have taught others how to successfully deal with Change, helping them navigate Change waters individually, as teams, and as organizations. I have tried to walk my talk on this, not just talk my walk. Yet still, I struggle.

My readers have walked through some of these changes with me, the most dramatic being the sale of our primary home, and our downsizing into a much smaller and very different home a little over a year ago. I am still dealing with that. While it is true that time helps us to cope with loss, we are never the same at our core when we experience major Change, especially when the Change was mainly chosen because it was the practical decision to make, for those in our age group and with our circumstances.    

Recently, other unwanted changes have come our way. Mike and I have had both of our vehicles totaled by our insurance company since September. Mike’s vehicle was totaled from an accident that involved only him in September. He was not hurt, thankfully. While our insurance company initially totaled his car, we decided to keep it and have it repaired, and we are glad that we did.

Mike and I were in my van stopped at a traffic light on December 23^rd when a driver in another car who was apparently going too fast and driving recklessly caused an accident involving seven vehicles. Mike and I were not hurt, (although some others were) but my 2017 Chrysler Pacifica van was totaled. Since the damage was so significant and the van had approximately 230,000 miles on it, we decided that it made sense to not attempt to have that vehicle repaired. While I loved that van and hoped to drive it another year or two, I was soon in the market for a new, or rather, previously owned, vehicle. The question became, what type of vehicle did I want? Or rather, regardless of what I might want, what type of vehicle made sense for me at this point in my life?   

I was clear about two things related to my vehicle search. I wanted a vehicle that runs fine on regular unleaded gas, not premium. And I wanted a vehicle with more recent safety features, such as a backup camera and side and lane-changing warning lights and sounds. And while I had had a van for many years and loved the ability to carry furniture and other stuff (for my side business, antiques, and gifts,) my family and friends convinced me that it was time for a smaller vehicle. While I agreed that it was time for a smaller vehicle, the question became, how much smaller?

Without going into all of the whys and wherefores of my final decision, I am now the driver of a 2021 Honda CR-V, Touring. While it is smaller than my earlier choices, I have decided that it is right for me. It has enough room for hauling most of the stuff I need to haul at my age, and the few times a year that I need a larger vehicle, I can rent one, or borrow one. That is my logical side talking. My emotional side misses my van terribly. While this is not a change the magnitude of selling our primary home, it is a major change for one who has driven, and loved, larger vehicles for many years.

I have heard only positive feedback from others about Hondas in general and Honda CR-Vs in particular. Having driven my new car for a week now, I have had a positive experience with it. It is much easier to drive than my van, and it has enough room for Mike and me and what we should be carrying to and fro. While it will take us some time to learn how to use all of its bells and whistles, I am enjoying one of those. My iPhone charges without plugging it into an outlet; there is a pad that charges it. Now, that is cool!

One of the selling features at Carmax where I purchased the Honda was a thirty-day (not to exceed 1500 miles) return for a full refund. While I have only driven the Honda a week, I have not allowed myself to calculate the miles. I do not want to be tempted to return it. It drives fine, it has some important safety features that I want, and there are entirely too many choices to consider if I decide this vehicle isn’t the one for me. I am tired of the car buying process, although my salesperson at Carmax, Mamadu, was excellent.

While he has no idea how many miles I have driven, I am sure Mamadu is watching the calendar for my month allowing a return of the Honda to end. So am I.