Letting Go and Be Persistent

I learned three things on how to solve problem from missing a glove in Woodbury common outlet.

First, accept that we made a mistake. It was hard but I need to acknowledge that I missed the left glove because of my preference and my carelessness. First, I actually do not need to keep opening my glove. But I felt more comfortable operating my handphone with my bare hand. At the same time, the weather was cold, and so I still want to keep my gloves outside my bag instead of keeping it. It was this indecisiveness on whether to keep or not to keep causing me to be prone of the glove slipping out.

Second, I need to learn to know when to stop trying to solve the problem. I kept asking around within the Adidas store but no one knows. As it is less than 10 minutes ago, I decided to stop. This is because if it falls somewhere slightly difficult to see, it is not easy for people to find it and bring it to the cashier which I assumed to be acting as the lost and found part. It was difficult because I could not accept the negative consequence of my mistake. Secondly, the glove was nice and useful and so I am very sad if I lose it and have to buy a replacement. But it was not effective to search and thus I decided to let it go.

Third, be persistent at the same time. Prepare to accept the loss, but as long as there is something we can do, do it. Before we went back home, I took the courage to try asking the cashier of Adidas store. It was saddening when the cashier said they don’t have anything. Well, it was expected. But few seconds afterwards, there is another staff, non-cashier staff stopped me and asked me to look at a place he pointed out to check it out. And yes, the glove was above one of the shelves. I was so happy to find it and grateful for that person’s kindness.

So, be courageous that we are human who can make mistake. Try to solve the problem but let it go when things are not fruitful. At the same time, after taking some break, it is ok to revisit the problem. Most of the time, it may not change anything, at the same time there is still a hope that somehow the problem can be solved, probably with some unexpected help.