waymo experience and thoughts on navigating change

I'm a mega huge fan of checking things out for one-self. I noticed these vehicles with all the additives around the bumpers and on the top when we were waiting on our Uber to show up in the PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. And then I realized they didn't have a driver! I just had to take some videos and then I asked our Uber driver about them - he had some things to say - but I also asked him if he had ever ridden in them himself. If even to check out the competition- he said no.

Too new.

Too weird.

Too many bugs.

(I remember how people said that when it gets confused, it just cuts off.)

It's taking away my customers.

Too scary.

Well, I needed to check it out for myself. So here's my first experience of the Waymo autonomous driving vehicle. I'm still alive to upload this video and I'm reminded of when other new technology came on the scene in our past.

Watch “Waymo experience and thoughts on navigating change" video here

Remember those "cashierless check-out machines"? I heard so many things when they were coming on the scene years ago but now it's a regular sight in most stores. Today we have other things, foods, and even people groups in which many of us approach the same way- with fear, lack of information, and desire to say, 'no thanks!’

I know new things are .....well, new.

And likewise, maybe being around people or people groups we don't know can cause us to have similar reactions as well. I've seen people respond with those same emotions and reactions caused by fear of personal safety, fear that their jobs or services would be taken away, fear due to increased feelings of insecurity, and a desire to control and perhaps make things the way they were again.

But change is "gone come." It's just a part of life. What's a better way to embrace it? For me, investigating things for myself is a part of my routine. Doing my own research and asking questions of others closest to the source if I can't experience things myself is a part of my learning in most things. What about you?

As far as Waymo goes, this link came up when I booked my first trip using the app: https://support.google.com/waymo?p=what_to_expect

But as far as learning about other things...

Well for me, I'm doing my own research and learning to supplement what I'm hearing in the news, about immigration and migration. That's why I applied to go and spend over 5 weeks of my life on the southern United States border serving alongside a Pastor who partners with a city at a border gate to assist with care of people who have come here from another country aka migrants. More about that can be found here: https://sejanashines.com/2024/07/26/interns-tell-all-on-video-with-fellowship-southwest/

I've also done my own learning to supplement the churches and mentors I've had in my upbringing to bring me more into the understanding of God's view of women serving in ministry that I have today. There have been so many voices and organizations and institutions that I have learned from to expand my understanding of the Divine and being called by God to ministry- even as a woman. Some of that collaboration is mentioned here from when I graduated seminary: https://sejanashines.com/2024/08/05/seminary-graduation/

I invite you to check out the rest of my thoughts and reflections on my substack https://sejanashines.substack.com/ . It's a space I'm trying out to help me find my most authentic (written) voice and community through virtual connections and conversation. Come say hi and tell me what you think.

#doyourownresearch #waymo #change