One Simple Act that Can Change Your Day, Your Year, Your Life

My stomach plunged when I looked in the empty bag. My laptop gone.

How had I allowed this to happen? Again?

Leif and I spend more than 180 days per year on the road. This lifestyle means we are strewn about—our bodies, diets, clothes, electronics and possessions. We rise early, go to sleep late, and travel exhausted. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised I leave so many items in hotel rooms, rental cars, and airplanes.

I’ve left my laptop on planes twice. Both times we’ve managed to get them back. Something tells me we won’t be as lucky next time.

We’ve been less fortunate with Leif’s wallet. It’s disappeared multiple times while traveling. A few years ago, a Delta airline agent found the wallet complete with cash and credit cards in Leif’s jacket (also left behind). The item was sent to our travel destination. With each stop the jacket made along the way, the wallet became lighter. Cash disappeared. Then credit cards. Then the wallet. Only his jacket made it back to us.

I’ve lost so many items traveling—ear buds, Bose headphones (3 times-eicks!), jackets, credit cards, cash, books, wallets, iPhones, and more—that are never seen or heard from again despite filing multiple reports with lost and found and calling the hotel back every few days.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I left a red vest with a credit card and cash in the pocket on an Alaskan Airline flight. I’ve filed a report but doubt I’ll ever see either again.

For years, Leif and I felt awful about the losses. We’d circle the drain of negative ruminations regarding of what we could have done different.

A few years ago we decided to establish an OOPSIES! Fund.

This is one of our best practices—not just for ourselves but our marriage.

Every year we squirrel away a significant amount of money for OOPSIES!

OOPSIES! I booked the wrong airline tickets and now must pay change fees.

OOPSIES! I dropped my iPhone in the hotel toilet (again).

OOPSIES! I can’t find the $10 in cash that was in my jacket pocket.

OOPSIES! Wait, where is my jacket?

Whether we manage to crash the rental car, book a non-refundable hotel in the wrong city, or buy plane tickets for the wrong city (yes, we’ve done all these!), we now smile at each other and say, “OOPSIES! Fund.”

We don’t beat ourselves or each other up with regret or misgivings. We extend grace, forgive, and move on. We embrace our humanity, imperfections, and forgetfulness.

This is a practical and powerful way to fight back with joy.