By Lindsay Keating
Lindsay: Hi, is it David?
David: Yes, hi Lindsay, nice to meet you. You know, you’re my first female Uber driver. Do you do this full-time?
Lindsay: No, I left my corporate life behind about five months ago to start a business, and this is part of my exit strategy.
David: That’s great, what is your business?
Lindsay: It’s called Nature Moves, we run school holiday camps for autistic kids.
That conversation has been on repeat, several times a day for the past five months. Uber driving started as an exit strategy and turned into a source of inspiration.
Now, I am grateful for the introductions and confidence it has given me.
As a single mum, working full time in the global logistics sector, I was the definition of an absent parent for my daughter who is autistic and needs me most.
Seeking help to bring balance to my life, things started to shift. Reviewing my homework assignment, a mind map of what my soul wants, I knew exactly what I needed to be doing.
Once I had the vision, the goal of overcoming burnout moved to planning my exit strategy. My life was about to change.
Considering what I needed to survive: a car to replace my company car, an income and flexibility. Uber rentals was the solution.
What I didn’t consider however, is the importance of surrounding myself with supportive and positive people.
The encouragement, even from absolute strangers, has been invaluable, particularly when I questioned what I’d just done.
It sounds cliche, however once I discovered my purpose and took the plunge into all things Autism, the lights went from red to amber to green.
With courage at an all-time high, I saw a need and created the Positive Action Autism ADHD Facebook Group and Podcast. PAAA Pod for short.
With the tag line, ‘You ask the questions, We get the answers’, members of the group ask questions on a topic, then I use those questions to facilitate conversations with experts.
I had the vision, but no idea how to execute it.
When one of the world’s leading experts on autism, Dr Michelle Garnett, from Attwood and Garnett Events, got into my Uber and shared her email address on the back of a napkin, I knew I was on the right path.
Through follow up conversations, Dr Michelle and Dr Tony Attwood graciously confirmed their support with the PAAA Pod as we share the vision of making the world a better place for autistic people through a greater level of awareness, education and support.
The Positive Action Autism ADHD Facebook group has over 500 members and growing daily.
PAAA Pod is up to episode five, including Dr Tony Attwood answering questions on Parenting Strategies. I now co-facilitate weekly free online support groups.
I began Nature Moves, a camp for autistic children to build friendships and confidence, in January, and these will run every school holidays at Boreen Point Camp Ground.
Spectrum Sports is coming to New Farm Park in Term 2.
My daughter and I ride bikes or scooter to school in New Farm, and she no longer attends before or after school care.
After a short five months, I now wake up every day to the best day of my life.
Friday, February 16th was my last day driving and I have started writing my book, ‘Inspiration from an Uber Driver.’
I always said, we only have one life to live and we can choose to live it any way we want to.
Now I am living proof and hope my story inspires others to take the leap if they want more meaning in their life.
For more on the sports program, visit www.spectrumsports.com.au, and for more on the camp, visit www.naturemoves.com
