By Amanda Permann

A while back, our GMC Suburban started acting up. We knew something was off but hadn’t gotten it checked yet. One day, my daughter forgot her backpack at home, so I had to make a quick 3-4 minute trip to bring it to her at school, with my other daughter along.

As we pulled out of the driveway, the car made a strange noise. I figured I’d mention it to my husband when I got back since it was just a short drive. But then, on the highway approaching a small hill, the Suburban’s gas pedal suddenly stopped working. The engine was running and the car was in drive, but pressing the gas did nothing. I immediately realized this was serious.

My speed dropped as I climbed the hill. I thought, “I need to get as far off the road as possible to avoid an accident.” I slowed down fast and managed to steer off the road, but the back end stayed partly on it since we’d lost all momentum.

I tried shifting into reverse, but that didn’t work. Shifting into neutral let us roll back slowly, so I could get the car mostly off the road and then put it in park. We ended up halfway up the hill — not the safest spot for passing traffic, but thankfully the road wasn’t busy.

My daughter started getting worried, imagining scary things. I felt tense too, but I focused on staying calm. I told her, “It is what it is, and we'll be okay. Help is on the way.” We prayed for safety, guidance, and help. Then a couple people came to mind:

• Our Uncle: He was out of town working with cattle and wouldn’t be back for 20-30 minutes.

• My Brother-in-Law: He worked nearby, and though I didn’t want to interrupt him, the urgency made me call. Thankfully, he was available and willing to help.

While we waited, I consciously focused on the positives with gratitude:

• Perspective on Emergency: This wasn’t a major emergency like a fire or wreck — we slowed down in a controlled way and pulled off safely.

• Traffic Conditions: It was a slow time of day with light traffic, lowering accident risk.

• Self-Reliance: We could steer ourselves off the road, and the hill actually helped.

• Cell Phone: I had a fully charged phone.

• Weather: Warm and sunny, no rain or cold winds.

• Support Network: The people we called were ready to help, and help was coming fast.

• Distance for Towing: We only needed a short tow to my in-laws’ place.

• Additional Help: When my brother-in-law arrived, a neighbor friend stopped by to help with towing, so I didn’t have to get out of the car.

Instead of letting worry or frustration take over, I chose to stay calm and focus on what was going right. By recognizing the advantages we had and trusting help would come, I kept a positive outlook and handled the situation well.

This whole experience reminded me how much perspective shapes how we react. Realizing that the significance of a problem, the support around us, and the timing all influence our feelings helped me stay calm and deal with the breakdown effectively.

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