I recently gave up driving. I passed my test last year, but I stopped voluntarily when I turned 90. I thought that it was finally the right time.

Needless to say, my family was relieved—they didn’t have to have “that talk” with me. My doctor was relieved too. Next to diagnosing an incurable illness, taking away a senior’s driving license is probably one of the hardest things he must do. Since my wife passed away years ago, 1 made this decision alone. Although I'm sure my late wife would have approved. I knew I couldn't move as well as I used to, and my vision was getting worse. It hurt to turn my head when backing up, and, after lengthy shopping trips, I was exhausted.

As I handed over the keys of the car to my son, I thought of all the cars my wife and I had owned over the years. A car is freedom, independence, and an extension of your personality. Without one, you feel like less of a person.

I have a son who lives close by and we shop together at least once a week. My neighbors also offer me rides, but the idea of being dependent on other people after a lifetime of independence is hard to get used to.

I’ve learned to adapt and change. With my own car, I could go anywhere at a moment’s notice. But now, my horizons have shrunk and I must plan ahead for everything. No more popping out for milk or bread or last-minute afternoon drives.

However, I found a solution to some of those problems. Last year, I decided to buy a nice new four-wheel electric scooter. At a top speed of 12 km/h, it takes 20 minutes to get from my house to the grocery store. But now, my route is free from traffic and noise, with trees and greenery replacing cars and street signs.

Giving up driving is hard, and some of us never accept the loss. For me, however, it was just the end result of a long and lucky life. Life in the slow lane（车道）turned out to be so much fun and so much cheaper.

I believe that having a voice in something you put effort in will build you into a stronger person. All the time, I had grown as the one to be taken advantage of, only because I was the one willing to help others.

When I was in high school, I grew tired of the same routine daily, and wanted to be given a challenge. At the beginning of my fresh year, I was selected to be a drum major for the school band. A drum major is the leader of the marching band during rehearsals (排练)and in performances. But I did not know how to take on the actual job the first time. So I watched many videos on how to act better, though I couldn't do it very well.

One day, the band was rehearsing again, but no one had memorized their music. Frustrated that the music was just so-so, I lost my temper and then opened my mouth, saying how unacceptable it was because we had been ranked in first place as the best marching band. The moment I had finished my speech on how we should focus better, all jaws were dropped. Even I was surprised: it was the first time that I had opened my mouth about something I cared about. Because of that, I lost some friendships, but developed even stronger relationships with people who wanted to follow my footsteps.

In my last two years of high school, I became known as one full of confidence in my situation. I was the first one to volunteer and the happy one to lend a hand, I learned to have a voice by being chosen to lead the marching band and became stronger through losing and making new connections. And I influenced those youngsters to become a better person than they were yesterday.

“This way, everyone.” said the young Bahamian as he led the way to the hoar. As the boat moved over the waves, I thought back eleven years to my first island visit via a cruise ship. As we landed, I noticed a sign advertising swimming with dolphins. I looked at my mother; she knew exactly what I wanted, but I was too young. “Maybe some other time,” she said. I think everyone knows that those four words usually translate to never. It made me, a little boy, depressed for many days. From that day on, it was my dream to swim with those gentle creatures.

Now, after 15 minutes of travelling, we reached the Sanctuary Bay. As we arrived, I saw the gray creatures showing off their unique talent before my eyes. We were led off the boat, past a back building. Our guide told us we would have the pleasure of spending the next 90 minutes with Kaholo, a young male, and Robola, the largest female, who is quite famous for having played the lead in the film Zeus and Roxanne.

My father and I were joined by four others and followed the man once more. He told us to jump into the water while he let the dolphins into that part of the bay. For the first 20 minutes, we could go anywhere and touch the dolphins as they swam by.

Kaholo and Robola must have known I was their biggest fan because they swam towards me as if I had had fish. After the introductory period, they jumped over our heads. I got a hug and kiss from Robola, and also learned how to have Kaholo talk to me.

This was by far the most magical experience of my life. Next time your parents say “Maybe some other day”, have faith in them. Your dreams are important to them too, and they will do whatever they can to make it possible, because dreams can come true.