(A Manual Car)

I remember my first time learning to drive like it was yesterday.
My older brother was behind the wheel of my dad’s ’87 Honda Civic, shifting gears like a pro, when he looked at me and said,

“Wanna drive?”

Me, the confident woman I am, said, “Yeah!”
I’d watched my dad drive that car a thousand times. How hard could it be?

Man, was I wrong.

I got behind the wheel and looked down to see three pedals.
That definitely wasn’t in the driver’s ed book.

I knew how to work the shifter, or so I thought, but the clutch? That was a whole new world. And if you know anything about manual cars, you know:

• Going uphill is hell.
• Stopping at a stop sign is hell.
• Reversing? Absolute hell.

But I was determined. I was already thrown in the pool, so I had to learn to swim.

After a few stalling sessions, a burned-out clutch (sorry, Dad), and a whole lot of yelling, a few months later I was a pro.
There was something so satisfying about getting it right, the rhythm, the control, the connection between you and the car.

When my dad finally traded that Civic in for a Dodge Caravan, I was heartbroken. That little manual had taught me patience, perseverance, and timing.

It’s been about 20 years since I’ve driven stick, and when I tried again at a dealership a few years ago… let’s just say it died instantly.
It’s not like riding a bike, every car has its own rhythm, its own feel.

Still, one day, I’ll own another one.
Because as frustrating as it was, there’s something empowering about learning to master the machine, the timing, the coordination, the control.

And honestly?
I just love the push and pull of a manual vehicle.

They’re more than metal and bolts. They’re a reminder that when things don’t come easy, you learn, you adapt, and eventually, you drive.

Learning to drive a manual car taught me way more than how to shift gears, it taught me about control, timing, and trusting myself even when I stall.

Because here’s the truth: life is a lot like driving stick.
You can’t just throw it into gear and expect it to move smoothly, you’ve got to listen, feel, and adjust. You’ll stall sometimes, roll backwards, maybe even burn a clutch or two, but every mistake teaches you something new.

When you finally find your rhythm, everything clicks, the sound, the motion, the flow. It’s confidence in motion.

So yeah, I may have struggled at first. But learning to drive that ’87 Civic showed me that sometimes the hardest starts lead to the smoothest rides.

And that’s what Overdrive by HER is all about, learning the rhythm of your own drive, trusting your instincts, and remembering that confidence is something you build one gear at a time.