The 5 Gifts Experience Leaves Behind

I pulled up to the car wash this morning. The automatic car wash was closed but my car really needed washing so I ambitiously eyed the “do it yourself” stalls. Typically the Texas heat alone would be enough to deter me but not today- the temperature was in the 60s due to our first cool front. Upon casual glance, the directions seemed very self-explanatory. I thought to myself, “You got this, Angie!” Ummmm, nope. Clearly, I did not have it.

The carwash did not go as planned. How I saw the event unfold in my head did not match my personal experience this morning. A carwash is simple and I’m a smart woman – what could go wrong?

Things they don’t tell you but you might want to consider if you are experiencing the “do it yourself” stall for the first time:

• Car washes are not short people friendly. Why do they not have a stool/ladder available? I don’t even want to think about the condition of the roof of my car.

• Make yourself familiar with all the different tools you will be required to use. You will only know which tool/wand/hose/thingamig to use because it will make a sound when the products come shooting out of it at varying trajectories. Seriously, there were like four tool stations.

• Wind direction matters. Your good hair day will be ruined.

• Plan on going home to change clothes.

• I am pretty sure it is less expensive to have your car detailed.

• Bring coins. Do not use your credit card.

• Allow much more time than you think you will need.

• It will be obvious to others it is your first time.

• It is ok to accept pointers and ask questions.

• How toxic are the products? I am pretty sure at some point during the ordeal each product found its way in my mouth, on my skin, in my hair or at a minimum on my clothes.

• And most importantly…. Do not assume the directions tell you all you need to know! Don’t trust the directions because they are written by someone that already knows how to work the carwash. Also, I’m definitely sure they need a set of man directions and woman directions. We think so differently, you know. I need more information. I have questions that need answers. You might want to get clarification on these things before you even begin:

Tire Cleaner – is this for the actual tire or for the rim also? Do I rinse this off? Is it bad if it gets on other parts of the car?

Presoak – for how long? My experience with soaking is dishes and laundry. Don’t call it a soak if it isn’t a soak. Logically, I know it can’t be the same time frame. The timer is ticking and I have only 20 minutes total. I feel the pressure. And – how am I supposed to reach the roof? By the way – Spoiler alert – you will not finish the carwash in 20 minutes.

High-Pressure Soap – Nope, I can’t reach the top. I guess this just gets the major dirt off? Like presoak but with no soaking and high pressure.

Foam Brush – Ok, this one makes sense. I am using a brush to scrub but WOW – it makes a crazy amount of foam. I’m not entirely sure I did this correctly. My stall began to look like a washing machine soap accident. I think this was the cycle I noticed people beginning to stare. I could no longer see my feet because they were covered in foam. The foam just kept growing and sliding off the car onto the ground.

High-Pressure Rinse – Finally, I can get some of this foam off. My 20 minutes end. I must swipe my card again. Fine. This is a very long phase. It takes forever to get all the foam off.

Triple Foam – I have multiple issues with the phase. They call it “conditioner” -seriously? Is it an instant conditioner or deep conditioner and why does my car need this?? Do I need to leave it on for a while? It is bright blue and automatically spits out of the wand on the other side of the booth. There is no trigger is just spits out – slowly. This phase takes forever to completely cover your car. And do they mention it stains your skin? No, they don’t. I still have the hands and feet of a smurf. Clear Coat is next. What the heck! Don’t I need to wash off the “conditioner” with water? I’m not sure. It doesn’t say. What do I do? Ok, high-pressure wash- round two. It seems like the thing to do.

High-Pressure Wash (round 2)– I hate the Triple Foam Conditioner. Yep, another twenty minutes are up. It is demanding more money and I am at the car wash’s mercy. I swipe. Declined. What?? I put the sprayer up to get in the car and grab my phone. I get a fraud alert text. I have to call the bank. No, bank. It is not fraud. Yes, it is me making all these charges at the carwash. I agree, bank person – it does seem excessive. They lift the fraud hold. I swipe again. Of course, now that evil blue triple foam has dried on my car. Awesome. I resume rinsing.

Clear Coat – Apparently, this is the wax cycle. Can you use too much wax? Yes. Yes, you can get too much wax on your car. I will just leave it at that. Spend much less time than you think you should on this cycle.

Spot Free Rinse – This phase is a lie. Total lie. You will have spots. I also believe using the term “rinse” is misleading. It isn’t like a water rinse. It just slowly disperses a fine mist of something that isn’t spot free. I will admit by this point I was extremely jaded. This is not a rinse. I am convinced its only purpose was to mock me. Another 20 minutes is up. I must swipe again. Will this ever end?

Blower – No. Just. No. It is a shop vac that blows air. Where is this “Air Shammee” I was promised? I can’t even reach the taller parts of my car. What am I going to dry? The beads of water just blow around. Forget this!

I spent the better part of my morning getting a “quick” carwash.

Why am I sharing this story with you?

My morning was a gentle reminder to me of the vast difference between the theoretical knowledge of knowing how to use the “do it yourself” car wash and experiential knowledge of the “do it yourself” car wash.

Experience makes a difference in outcomes.

I have often asked God why do I learn best by going through an experience instead of learning these lessons by reading/hearing/knowing about them. I can learn through others, a book, or someone else’s story but it isn’t the same education as when I experience it personally.

Experience teaches us the lessons we don’t know are there.

Can you learn heartbreak from a book or someone describing it? You can learn about heartbreak but you will gain a completely different level of awareness when you live through one. Some levels of learning are only available through experience.

New experiences create unique opportunities in our lives. We often have theoretical knowledge but lack the experiential knowledge in a situation. The two realities can be vastly different. When we haven’t experienced something, we really can’t identify enough with it to know what we don’t know.

Thankfully, not all experiences are as painful as heartbreak. A new experience can be as innocuous using the “do it yourself” car wash for the first time. Experiences can also bring us profound lessons in joy, happiness, and peace. The principle remains the same – experience teaches us the lessons we don’t know are there.

The 5 Gifts Experience Leaves Behind

Perspective.
We come to understand that we don’t know until we know. We can’t ask the right questions until we are in a situation that forces us to ask that question. In life, we naturally filter our thoughts, questions, actions through our previous experiences. We need these new experiences and exposures to expand the tiny bubble that is our own world.

Challenge.
Discomfort motivates growth. Being uncomfortable gets our attention. Being uncomfortable motivates us to think outside of the box. Being uncomfortable forces us to re-evaluate old patterns of problem-solving. We learn more from what isn’t working than what is working. Discomfort challenges us to rise to a new level.

Appreciation.
Struggle produces appreciation. We have a greater appreciation and awareness for things we struggle to conquer. We are empowered when we see the promises of God manifest.

Humility.
Experience humbles us. It is a reminder we always need to remain a student of life. The only way we learn is to remain teachable and open.

A Better Understanding of Grace.
We truly learn we can do nothing apart from Him. We learn it is only by and through the grace of God we can know or do anything.

Embrace new experiences and the lessons they bring forth.