Breakfast prepared?  Check.  √

Work bag packed?  Check.  √

Coffee in hand?  Check.  √  Okay, so we are ready to go.

Well, that’s what I thought as I pulled out the yard, focused on delivering two of my children quickly and safely to school.

Image courtesy of Mister GC at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I was looking forward to getting the day started with my high-priority activities to maximize my productivity.  I pulled up to my work destination, gingerly turned off the motor, and instinctively leaned over to gather my things.

“What???  Where is my laptop bag?  Don’t tell me……nooooo!  Okay, calm down Sharmane.  Maybe your husband put it in the back seat when he was seeing you off.  Nope, it’s not there either.  Grrr!”

This internal conversation went on for all of two minutes until I came to grips with the dismal fact that my most important tool was not with me.  What a bummer!  Despite the mental check list at the start of the morning, I had overlooked a huge detail.

After settling down to my desk, I began to search for a reason why driving all the way back home, on the other end of the island to retrieve my laptop, would be a good thing.  Would you believe I found one?

I remembered that there were freezer items needing to be purchased for the house.  I could get them earlier and secure them at home without worrying about them melting or spoiling in the vehicle.  I had chosen to see the brighter side of what could have been a stressful situation.

As I reflected a bit on the morning madness, I tried to glean from it, a few helpful life lessons.  Here are just four that surfaced:

1. Remember that a short pencil is better than a long memory. This quirky saying is one I’ve used a lot when I conducted training sessions. I had made a mental note of what I needed to do, but had I written them down and been intentional about consulting my list, I would have been on my ‘A’ game with laptop in hand.  So, when in doubt, write it out!
2. Do a double take. You know those moments when you walk pass someone you think you know, but you’re not very sure?  What do you do?  You quickly glance back to confirm or refute your assumption, right?  Well, that’s exactly what I should have done.

I should have done a double take or a second check to inventory all of my essentials.  What would it have hurt, huh?  Nothing.  Exactly!  So, when in doubt, check it out……..again!

3. Maintain a positive posture. Though I had a brief moment of being frazzled, I am glad I didn’t start talking negatively to myself.  You know those self-defeating things we say in moments like these.  “How could you be so stupid?  Look how you three your day right out of kilter.  Goodness!  You’re not being very smart today, are you?”

Sometimes, our self-talk is not so mild, but if it starts, we must choose to change the frequency and tune into words that would engender courage, confidence and comfort.  Such positive words energize us but the choice is ours.  So, when your inner voice shouts, keep negativity out!

4. Look for the good. Finding the bright side of things isn’t always easy, but it’s an activity worth practicing.  Whenever my siblings and I complained about not having something, my mom would always remind us that there were children less-fortunate than we were.  Of course, this was true, but we didn’t want to hear it at the time.

Perhaps we can apply this concept to our unplanned mishaps.  Remembering that others have worse experiences makes us appreciative in our present dilemma.  So, when you’re tossed about, seek the good out!

The next time you forget a key resource for your lesson, have a new student unexpectedly added to your class in the middle of the term, or find out the copier isn’t working when you need it most, look deeper to see the lessons you can learn.  And remember to see the brighter side.  There’s always one!

Leave a comment:  How do you handle difficult, unexpected situations so that you remain unfrazzled?