Not the Trip I Planned — But the One I Needed

Gratitude is a powerful tool. It can help carry us through the hardest times and even the little everyday challenges. I remember one situation that really showed me how choosing gratitude—even in a moment of frustration or fear—can shift everything. It was a seemingly small event, but it became a pivotal reminder of how much mindset matters.

Just a Road Trip Back Home—Nothing New

I was about five months pregnant at the time, heading back to my hometown for a visit. It was a solo drive—just me and my trusty 2010 Toyota RAV4. Like any road trip I took on my own, I had a lively playlist going—probably my boy bands mix, because nothing keeps me awake and singing like the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC.

I was about 30 minutes from my destination when one dashboard light came on… then two… then five… then six. I remember thinking, alright, this is not good.

Strangely, I didn’t panic. Something told me to stay calm. I focused, took a deep breath, and told myself: just find a safe place to pull over.

First Moments of Gratitude

Thankfully, the next exit was just metres away. I made it off the highway and pulled off onto a quiet county road, right in front of someone’s home. Rav slowed down and eventually shut off completely.

And right then, my first thought of gratitude kicked in:
Thank you, Rav, for making it off the highway safely.
I wasn’t stranded on the 401. I wasn’t in danger. I was safe—and that mattered more than anything else in that moment.

My second moment of gratitude came when I called CAA. Not only did they come quickly, but they allowed me to ride with them all the way to my parents’ house—a blessing, especially during Covid times when contact was still limited. I hadn’t replaced my car battery in a while, so we figured that was the issue. My dad helped swap it out, and Rav was back up and running. Or so we thought.

Here We Go Again

The next day, I went to visit some friends. We chatted, laughed, caught up, had a bev, and said our goodbyes. I was planning to head home the next morning. But as I pulled away from their house and rolled up to the first stop sign—ding, ding, ding. One light. Then two. Then five. Then six. Again?!

This time, I laughed. I parked safely, called my friend, and he walked over to help me get the car back to his place.

And again, I felt this little wave of gratitude:
Thank goodness this happened near someone I know.
It could have happened anywhere, but it didn’t. That made all the difference.

What Is Going On With This Car?

Yes, the car is old—but I know Rav still has some life left in her.

We called a friend-of-a-friend who’s a mechanic, and by some miracle, he was available to check it out that day. After some bonus catch-up time with my bestie, the mechanic diagnosed the issue. I can’t recall the exact wording (anything mechanical sounds like a foreign language to me), but it was something about a part being clogged with buildup, which was causing other components to fail.

Definitely not the kind of thing you can spot easily—like a dead battery.

A Feeling I’d Never Felt Before

I made it back home the next day, and for the first time in a long time, I felt this strong wave of relief—and gratitude. Not just for making it back, but for everything that happened in between. The people who helped. The timing of it all. The safe places to pull over. The fact that I stayed calm and clear-headed in the moment.

I remember telling my husband,
"Wow… things could’ve gone a lot worse. And I’m honestly surprised at how calm I was through all of it."

Maybe someone was watching over me and my little bun in the oven.
Or maybe it was just the quiet, steady power of gratitude—doing its thing.

Either way, I’ll never forget how that moment made me feel. It reminded me that gratitude isn’t just something you write down or say—it’s something you choose. Even when things go sideways.