I Know I Put It Here Somewhere….
Before I began my current business almost a decade ago, I was a fitness instructor for 10 years. I loved my job and was committed to my participants, so I made an effort to arrive at least 15 minutes early for every class. But I’ll never forget one particular day when circumstances conspired to make me late….
I went to my purse to fetch my keys, but they weren’t there. It was strange, because I had developed a habit of always putting my keys in my purse so I wouldn’t waste time searching for them. I opened each zipper and checked every pocket in my purse, while getting more and more frantic as time ticked away. I emptied the contents of my purse, but still no keys. I checked my coat pockets, the kitchen counter, even inside my shoes in case they fell out of my purse. No luck. I called my husband at work to make sure he didn’t take them inadvertently. He said no, but I have to admit, I didn’t believe him at the time. As a person who greatly values being organized, I was taking this personally and looking for someone to put the blame on.
Finally, I was left with no choice but to call a cab if I wanted to get to my class on time. Thankfully, the cab arrived promptly, and the driver miraculously got me there just in the nick of time. However, as we were driving towards the fitness center, we came upon a car accident on the road just outside the parking lot. It looked as though it happened just a few minutes before we arrived.
Shortly after I got back home from the class, I put my hand in my purse to get a tissue and I felt something bulky. There, in one of the pockets, were my keys. I kid you not! I had my purse with me the whole time, so I know it’s impossible that someone placed the keys there after I looked for them. And I know I checked inside that pocket.
I have had many years to think about this incident and I’ve come up with a couple of explanations. The first is that sometimes we are delayed for our own good. There is a possibility that I would have been involved in that car accident had I found my keys and driven to the fitness center at my regular time. We’ve heard similar stories from people who were delayed and missed getting on the Titanic or into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11th. I call it a miracle, and yes, I do believe in miracles.
The second explanation is that I was so frantic about finding my keys that I lost my focus and couldn’t see that they were right in front of me; sort of a momentary blindness caused by stress. Later, when I had stopped looking for them and relaxed, they turned up. I try and remember this lesson the odd time I’m looking for something and can’t find it. And I share it with my family and friends, when they call me in a state of panic because they’ve misplaced something important. Just relax and let it go. Do something else. It usually turns up, eventually.
Which of the two explanations makes sense to you? If there are any others I’ve missed, please enlighten me as I am always open to learning.
I’ve had similar experiences on many occasions. I’m sure most of you have as well, and I encourage you to share them in the comment section below. Trust me, you are not alone.
Dear Helen,
I had a similar situation- although not one where my life could have been in danger. More like synchronicity or if you prefer coincidence and one small moment in time that became a life changing situation.
It was 1980 in Toronto and I was in “the big city” for the first time going to a college admission interview at Humber College for a three year public relations diploma program. I got off the bus from my hometown of Port Elgin, Ontario that had arrived in downtown at Dundas bus depot.
I decided to get my head straight and figure out directions from downtown to Rexdale. So I sat down on a bench in the bus station took a deep breathe and a gust of wind came into the depot blowing dirt, fumes and swirling newspapers all around the building. If you ever been to the old bus depot – you’ll know will have experienced the same thing.
A piece of newspaper wrapped itself around my ankles – I detangled it from around my legs. I saw that it had an article on a new thing called “the internet and computers”. I held on to it to read on my way to interview.
I got my directions straight and did the subway and bus changes to Humber College and waited for my interview as I was an hour early. So I read the article as I waited.
My name was called and I was sent into an office to be interviewed. I was interviewed by a nice man who oddly enough didn’t introduce himself when I first entered the room. I think he was tired as he said at the end of my interview that I was his fifth interview of the day.
He asked me a lot of questions and ended the interview with his final question of what I thought would be the biggest impact on the field of public relations in the future.
Well I began telling him of the article I had just read and quoted the article almost word for word. As I had been so excited to think of the possibilities for the PR industry I had adsorbed it like a sponge.
He got a huge smile on his face as I quoted the article, and as I ended my babbling he gave a short laugh and said, “That’s quite impressive that you remembered all that and got the quotes correct!
Without thinking of how it sounded, I said, “How do you know the quotes are correct?”? He leaned back in his chair and gave a bigger laugh and a loud snort and looked straight at me and said, “Because I was the one that was interviewed for that article!”
I gave a loud gasp and out came a large “No way!!!!!!”
I couldn’t believe it – and neither could he. I told him how the article had come to be in my possession and how I had read it on the way to my interview.
He smiled and said, “Well since you’ve demonstrated you are a quick study, and can collect and store information so well. And you can see potential in an idea and are open to new technologies. And you can communicate that idea to another person so well. I guess I have to say you are just what Humber is looking for.”
I squealed with delight (Yes I squealed – I was a young 20 year old small town girl – and one of my dreams has just came true).
“Besides…..” he said, “Who am I to stop fate. As the chances of you reading that article and being interviewed by me have to be pretty big. Wouldn’t you agree?”
I nodded with a big grin on my face, speechless as his words sunk in.
I shook his hand as he said “Good-bye, and good luck!” and quite literally floated out of the room.
That was 31 years ago – and I still have to shake my head in disbelief of how my path was changed by a gust of wind and a piece of a business section of a newspaper.
Ever since then I have never stopped believing in synchronicity and “Right time – right place and everything happens for a reason” Even if I may not understand why or even be aware it is happening till later.
Glad fate stepped in for you regaring your keys! the world is better place with you in in it!
May the fates be kind and generous to you always……..
Cheers!
Mini Jacques
What a great story Mini! Thanks so much for sharing. I agree wholeheartedly with you. This type of thing has happened to me and to many others that I know. I have no doubt that we are being guided to fulfill our purpose, we just have to pay attention and seize the opportunity that presents itself, which is exactly what you did.
My son came home from the bus stop in a panic. His wallet was gone and he had extra cash from his brother as well as his Metro pass in it.
I headed out with him and we re-traced his steps very carefully. I reminded him of the good things that had happened to him in the past (after having a Nintendo DS stolen during a mugging a number of our friends presented him with the cash to replace it). There was no wallet.
As we headed home so I could drive him to work, I kept encouraging him. Two houses down from ours, in the middle of the sidewalk we had covered 10 minutes earlier, was his wallet with everything intact.
I believe in miracles too!
Marg
Dear Helen,
Although I believe both explanations are possible and in your situation both probably apply. I wanted to talk PICNIC about something I have witnessed over and over again.
PICNIC
I’m a flight attendant and I could not count the amount of time I have seen passengers panic when they thought they had lost their passport. It happens so simply, passenger has a boarding card between their teeth, a passport in hand, a bag or two to carry, a cup of coffee or something else. They “stick” their passport in a pocket not to loose it an forget they even did it. They sit in their seat settle, look for their passport and panic. They say they have looked every were.
I usually tell them to take a deep breath and to calm down. I explain that I know from experience that their passport is in their bag but most likely not where they normally store it and they have to calmly look through all the pockets and folds of their bag.
Once they have calmed down they always find it.
But even when you put things in their proper place it happens that you don’t see them right away and that sense of panic takes over.
I know it’s happen to me more than once.
Thank you for great work. You have been a source of inspiration to me for many years and I always look forward to reading your news letter and articles.
Sylvie Lachance-Harrison
Hi Helen,
This story reminded me of something that happened when I was 13 (many years ago). I had stood up in my cousin’s wedding and she had given me her engagement ring, a single pearl, to wear during the wedding and she told me to hang on to it until she got back from her honeymoon. While she was away, I was wearing the ring to school and my Mom kept telling me I should put it away so I wouldn’t lose it. One night that week I went swimming in a pool inside a greenhouse and after that I couldn’t find the ring. I was so upset by this and called the pool owner and they checked the filters and everything. I went through my jewelry box and my entire bedroom as I couldn’t remember if I had put it away as told to or if I had indeed worn it that evening when I went swimming. When my cousin and her husband came back, I was fit to be tied about how they would react. I had both of them as well as several others go through my jewelry box to see if they could find it. My cousin told me not to worry about it. I felt so bad about it.
Several months later, my cousin was ove3r for a coffee with my Mom and I went looking in my jewelry box for something that we were talking about at the time and I wanted to show her. I came across a single pearl ring in my jewelry box, along with a double one that I knew was costume jewlery that I had gotten from my grandmother years before, so I took the single pearl down to my cousin and sure enough it was her ring!!! I couldn’t believe that all those times and so many people going through the box had not turned it up. She ended up getting the ring reset with my birthstone and gave it to me for Christmas!!
AS for the car key thing, I swear they hide on me in my purse. I too believe that things happen for a reason so maybe it was meant to be that you didn’t drive that day. It may have saved your life!!
Love your columns and miss seeing you on tv. I know you are on Steven and Chris frequently but I am back working now after breast cancer so I don’t get to see the show very often anymore. I really miss your show Neat as I watched it all the time when I was sick. Even though my house doesn’t show it, I love watching organizing shows!!
Oh how I have enjoyed all of these articles today. I too have had many such experiences…. one of the most amazing… My husband was driving us to his parents for the weekend. It was a long trip; I decided to re – organize the glove compartment. I came across an old calendar and was flipping through it when the pages stopped on this diagram showing the correct technique for helping a chocking victim.
As I studied the images, I remember thinking …. Now this is what instructors should give students, during basic first aid courses? Though I had taken basic first aid a couple of times, being a visual person, this was the first time I had seen such clear directions for the proper technique. I was so impressed I tucked the calendar back in the glove box, thinking I would cut it out and add it to my important things to keep file ;).
The next day at my in laws, while relaxing with a magazine, I became aware of a series of strange little whimpering sounds that had been going on for some time. Then I heard my brother in law’s voice becoming louder and louder, as he asked his mom if she could breath. When I turned to see what was going on, my mother in law was holding onto a chair and shaking her head, with my brother in law at her side rubbing her back. Before I new it, I had pushed my brother in law aside and wrapped my arms around my mother in laws waste. In my panic, on the first try, I didn’t do the technique properly at all and ended up just lifting her up in my arms instead of thrusting in and up. Once I realized she was still unable to breath, I really felt panicked as I said a little prayer asking for help. Just then, the diagram from the calendar flashed in my mind. This time I applied the technique as described on the diagram. I was about to try a 3rd time … when I heard my brother in law say… It’s out!!
Turns out my mother in law had been chocking on a piece of apple. Once she could speak, she explained that she was just starting to feel her knees give out and the room become darker, when the apple finally dislodged.
Later that night, I went to get the little calendar hoping to show everyone this great diagram, but no matter how many times I flipped through each page… I never did find it again.
It’s too bad I never got to add that diagram to my “important things to keep” file, but at least I found it that one time when it mattered the most.