Yet Another Thing My Dear Old Dad Used To Say, “You Can’t Steer a Parked Car”

Hi, once again, all my friends, family, foes, fiends, and all you funky folks.

Man, do I miss my Dad. The guy was a walking, talking quote machine — full of Southern-California-Depression-Era wisdom, humor, and the occasional well-placed sarcasm. One of his favorites? “You can’t steer a parked car.”

At first glance, it sounds like something you’d hear from a driving instructor after one too many espressos. But like most of Dad’s sayings, it wasn’t about cars — it was about life.

What the Hell Does That Even Mean In Real Life?

Simple: If you’re not moving, you can’t change direction.

Think about it. A parked car just sits there, going nowhere. You can crank the wheel left or right all day, but until you hit the accelerator, nothing happens. Life’s the same kind of way. You can want to change, plan to side-step, dream of a new direction — but until you start moving, you’re stuck in park.

The Real Danger in Standing Still

Ever met someone who’s always talking about their big plans but never doing anything? They’re like human parked cars — full of potential but going nowhere. Maybe you’ve been there yourself (hey, no judgment; we’ve all had our “stuck” moments, I know I have, for sure, and many times).