The Wallet

Wednesday evening I decided to treat myself to the hot tub because it was my birthday, so I went to the gym.  I put my stuff in a locker, just like I always do.  (I have never locked one because I don't own a lock.  But I have always figured most people are honest, and it wasn't a huge deal.)

When I was getting dressed again after relaxing in the pool, I realized that my wallet was NOT in my pants' pocket anymore.  I dressed as fast as possible, hoping to see it in the locker.  It wasn't.  It wasn't on the floor.  I searched the whole locker room.  Nothing.

I went to the front desk in the hopes that someone had turned it in to the lost and found.  No one had.

Now, at first this was really devastating to me. Not only did the wallet have my driver's license and all my credit/debit cards, it had my birthday money in it.  I had been looking forward to going shopping for some fun stuff for myself.

Anyway, we got the police reports filled out, banks notified, etc.  It was a pain, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been for me.  (You know, because Scott is a sweetheart and HE did all the icky calls. All I had to do was call a few places yesterday morning to get new cards ordered- things like insurance, etc.  He made all the yucky phone calls to banks and credit places...)

As I went to the DMV yesterday morning to get a  new license, I thought about how lucky I was.  The first thing was that I almost had my wedding ring in that locker as well.  But for some reason, I took it off at home and didn't take it to the gym with me. I'd even joked to Scott about taking it off before leaving the house. I've never done that before.  (Taking it off before leaving, not teasing Scott...)  Now, how devastating would that have been?  Losing my ring would have been MUCH harder than the wallet. Everything in the wallet was replaceable...

On top of not losing anything irreplaceable, my friend Cassie watched Katie while I went to the DMV and was more than happy to keep her as long as it took to get the new license.  Sometimes that takes HOURS...  I was so grateful to her. She was even willing to pick Anna up from school, had I been long enough at the DMV to miss pick up time. 

By the time I got the DMV, I was actually looking forward to 'starting fresh' with everything.  And you know what? I have lost 20 pounds since my last driver's license picture.  I got the first good picture taken for a driver's license in my driving history.  (And it only took 15 minutes total.

As I talked to the DMV worker who was processing my application, I was telling her why I needed the replacement.  I mentioned that nothing had been irreplaceable.  I also said something that I realized was true but that I hadn't realized until I said it out loud.  I hoped the money that had been in my wallet had gone to someone who really needed it.  I mean, I was going to buy stuff I didn't need to be buying anyway...


My point in all this?  There is ALWAYS an upside.  Even if that upside is that things weren't worse.  And even in bad situations, a good attitude will go a long way.  I did NOT have a good attitude about the wallet when it first happened. But by the time I was at the DMV, I did have a good attitude, and it made all the difference.  Didn't change the circumstances, but it turned it from a negative to a positive for me, which in turn affected my family.

Someone once said, "Life is 10% what happens and 90% how we react to it." I've always believed that, but this reiterated it to me.

Have a good attitude in all situations.  It helps. Trust me.  Just a thought. :)