Sitting Still Before I Step Forward – Catlynh Phan 12/05

 I noticed that I have a habit of sitting in my car for a little while before going inside, even when I am tired or ready to be done with the day. I turn the engine off and just sit there in the quiet. Sometimes I watch the steering wheel, or I look at the way the light hits the dashboard. It feels like a small moment where the world stops asking for anything. I let myself breathe, settle, and think. It is almost like I need the space between arriving and entering, a moment to gather myself before stepping into whatever is next. I never used to think much about it, but lately it has felt like a small ritual that keeps me grounded.

We have talked about how journeys are not just big dramatic paths. They are made of small transitions, tiny thresholds, and moments where we shift from one part of ourselves to another. Sitting in my car has become one of those liminal places. It is not the destination and it is not the path. It is something in between. That pause helps me notice how I am actually feeling rather than rushing past it. It reminds me that meaning often shows up in the quiet spaces, not just the loud ones. When I finally open the door and walk inside, I feel more present. And that small moment in the car becomes part of the journey I am still learning how to walk.