The Lost Key

Perspectives matter. Sometimes a shift in viewpoint is critical. A recent loss tested this theory.

Last week, I drove my children to their swim practice, planning to run while they swam. To prepare, I wore running clothes, filled a water bottle, and packed my running pouch.

We arrived at the pool, they met their team, and I strolled to a park to warm up. Near the pull-up bar, I placed my car key on a bench, drilled capoeira movements, and completed a set of mountain climbers. Ten minutes later, I grabbed my gear and left.

By mile one, sweat covered my forehead, and I lost myself in the music of my headphones. Unaware of space, time, and the hole in my running pouch, I jogged for 13 miles. I experienced flow, but returned to the pool before my children’s practice ended.

My son came out as I stretched. We smiled at each other for a moment before I frowned as my fingers slipped through a hole in my pouch’s stitching.

Panic followed as I walked back to the park and found wood chips, birds chirping, and gravel. Inside, I said, “Maybe someone found the key and turned it in.”

I took a deep breath and headed to the pool’s lost and found. No one returned the key.

Embarrassed and disappointed, I called my wife and told her about the situation. She sent my middle child to the pool’s parking lot on his bike with the spare.

“Hey Dad!” Within a few minutes, my son arrived.

I put his bike in the car, and we drove home. Inside the garage, I called the dealer to ask about getting another key.

“I don’t have that key in stock, but I can get it here tomorrow. It will cost you about $340 to replace,” said the parts rep.

“Thank you, but let me give this another 24 hours before I make that decision.” I hung up the phone and opened the car door.

Within minutes, I rode a bike out of the driveway with my son in tow. We combed every part of my running path, but we didn’t find the key.

Days later, still frustrated and determined not to spend almost $400 on a key, I retraced my steps on another run. Instead of music this time, I listened to a podcast episode where a mother shared about losing her son. Her loss put my lost key into perspective.

Compare losing a child to the loss of a key, game, or job. You can’t.

Some losses don’t matter as much as we think. In the moment, they feel heavier than our shoulders can bear, but they’re insignificant.

Does it matter that the Knicks had a historic comeback in Game 4 of the finals? If you live in NY, yes.

When I initially realized that I had lost my key, I was upset. Anger fueled me to complete a solo duathlon when I returned to the path via bike on a madman’s mission.

It could have been much worse.

Recently, two teenagers in my community stole a car and killed the parents of four children while fleeing a police chase.

In Chicago news, former Bulls player Stacey King and the reputable funeral director Spencer Leak died.

One perspective in the Karmelo Anthony case called him a murderer; another said he acted in self-defense. Some claimed race mattered in the 35-year sentence, whereas others disagreed.

Consider your current issue and contemplate whether it deserves the sabotage of your attention and energy. It may be hard to disconnect from the problem in the moment, but give it time.

Take a deep breath and recognize, “This too shall pass.”

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This post was previously published on Dr. Vernon C. Lindsay, PhD blog.

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