Editors Note: The following submission's journal a middle aged woman's career change. Beginning in Truck Driving School, she details the process of getting her Commercial Driver's License (CDL), rides with a trainer, and she's eventually teamed up with another driver.

November 26,2002

Well, I've completed my short truck driving school and I'm now in orientation for my new company, CRST. I started two weeks ago yesterday, and the time has gone fast. There are 20 people in my class. One other fellow is from the "anonymous family". He reminds me of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 steps, especially when I judge that he is not working "his" program. This reminds me to inquire which step am I on today, and to work "my" program. So, he is Gods gift to me here, my reminder to keep my mind on my business and my spiritual progress rather than his.

Personalities are starting to appear to me. I've immediately judged my classmates as: losers, goof-offs, idiots, people pleasers, egotists, or sexists.

This small group is now my world and I can practice the principles I've learned in CoDA, and The Work by Byron Katie (www.thework.org).

1. Staying out of their business and staying focused on me. (Wisdom to know the difference).

2. Not knowing more than God. All these guys are not here by accident. God put them here just the way they are, for me to learn about myself.

3. Since I generally judge or pre-judge others, as soon as I meet them, I'm pleased to see my first impressions change as I remain open to that person. One young man, looked scary to me. With baggy pants, and a stocking hat pulled down low, he sat slumped in his chair like my definition of a slacker. He was my idea of some gang guy. It turns out he is highly intelligent and goal oriented. His goal is to buy a house and return to his study of forensic anthropology. If I had not looked at him, beyond my first impression, I would've lost out on sharing ideas with this interesting young man.

4. Another guy, I judged as a goof off, without a proper haircut. Later I listened to his stories about his work in pediatric medicine and found him intelligent and very spiritual. He wants to be a medical missionary.

So I am learning to see how my thinking about others creates my world. This is my side of the equation. I believe that everyone else in my class is also judging me the way I've been judging them. Thus, I am finding my self discovery is allowing me to not be reactive to how they treat me. One of the Four Agreements teaches to not take anything personally. This is a lifesaver for me especially since I am entering a 95% male occupation and I stand out as an anomaly being female. I get to create my own reality on how women are treated. So far I have no complaints. All instructors have treated me fairly and pleasantly.

I miss my known world of my little apartment, job and regular routine. All of that has changed for me now and I am very pleased to be living on the edge of my seat waiting to see what will happen next. Days are flying by and I'm not in regret, wishing I could be somewhere else. This is it, my current hearts desire.