Thursday Musings - A funny thing happened.......

A funny thing happened on the way to the forum... Well actually it was at a shopping centre last week.

I had one of those “I can’t believe I did that “moments. I had taken a friend shopping (she had not been well and needed a little help.) We had returned to my car with her shopping which I loaded into the boot. I then returned the shopping trolley to the collection bay. We drove around to the other side of the shopping centre to the Fish & Chip shop where I got out of the car and went to the boot for my handbag before going into the shop to order our fish and chips. Shock horror! No handbag to be found! I felt a welling up of PANIC.

I remembered that I had hooked my handbag onto the shopping trolley but I did not remember removing it.

 It couldn’t possibly still be there. Someone would have found it; taken my phone, money, credit cards etc. All these negative thoughts were whirling around in my head as I drove back to the underground car park.

When I arrived at the trolley bay the trolley was there but my handbag was gone just as I had expected.

Now what do I do?  I still felt panicky as the adrenaline surged around my body.

A man came over to me. He asked me if I had lost a handbag. I answered that I had and described it. “My wife found it and has taken it to the security office.” he said. Phew! My pounding heart started to settle and I began to believe that I may get my handbag back, hopefully with the contents intact.

With the help of this lovely man (I never did find out his or his wife’s name) I found my way to the security office where we found his wife, the security guard and joy of joys my handbag with everything inside intact.

I was and am so grateful. The man, his wife and the security guard were so kind. I felt such a fool leaving my bag on the trolley where anyone could have picked it up.  It truly warms your heart when you realize that there are good honest people out there.

Later I pondered on what this experience was all about. What do I need to learn from this experience? Once upon a time when something like this happened I would beat myself up for being so stupid making myself feel awful about the whole thing.

But I did not do that because I have learned that it is not necessary to punish myself. This time I was kind to myself, accepting that I had made a mistake and that it was OK.

However, it occurred to me that when something happens unexpectedly I automatically start to think negative thoughts and expect the worst. Now I am aware of this behavior I am learning to change it. I am learning to stop the negative thoughts and make myself think of positive outcomes. As with everything it takes practice but I am getting there.

Hilary Thompson

The Out and About Therapist

Facilitator Flourishing Relationships Retreats

My little friend Gwyn