The Ultimate Truths in Life

I was sixteen when I drove from Missouri to Ohio by myself in a red Dodge Neon, thinking confidence would be enough.

It wasn’t.

I didn’t even make it out of Missouri before getting pulled over repeatedly. Six tickets later, the highway patrol finally let me go. Years later, I learned red cars get targeted more, but back then it just felt like the world had its eyes on me.

Indiana was next. I got lost in an Indianapolis roundabout that seemed endless, circling for hours. No GPS. No backup. Just me, trying to figure out how to move forward instead of staying stuck.

By the time I reached Ohio, I was exhausted. Not just tired, but changed.

That trip taught me that independence doesn’t always feel empowering in the moment. Sometimes it feels lonely, overwhelming, and unfair. But it also taught me that even when you’re lost or pressured, you can still arrive.

Some roads don’t just take you somewhere.

They teach you who you are.