She lives in a city with a pretty small airport. It’s so convenient to be able to drive right up to the door and the check in counter is steps away. No jostling the rushed travelers or honking cars maneuvering for position. She dropped me off, we hugged and I entered the airport.
I try to travel without checking bags. With horrible experiences, albeit decades ago, where the airline regularly lost our luggage, I was skeptical at best and have had my fair share of learning how to handle difficult situations. It gets exhausting hauling that around, so I thought, how bad could it be? I’m only flying across the state. Plus, just my carry on was heavy enough.
I found a seat in the terminal and dug through my bag for my small travel purse. I’d already checked in to the flight and just needed to print my luggage tag. I opened my purse and took out my stack of cards to find my driver’s license. It wasn’t in the stack.
There were only four or five cards, credit, debit, etc. It wasn’t there.
Ok, it probably fell out in the larger carry on bag. I proceeded to take every item out one by one and lay it on the seat next to me. I searched pockets, for what I was pretty sure was a million times. My driver’s license was nowhere to be found. I repeated the search from the beginning. Stack of cards, carry on bag, pockets. Stand up, look around. Again, now more slowly. No driver’s license. Sit down, breathe.
Full on panic now rose inside of me.
How could I ever get on that plane to head home? What were my options? I couldn’t think of a single one. I’d have to stay until I could get a new driver’s license. But how could I do that with my documents at home. Oh, total calamity. Try to breathe. I had to face reality, no driver’s license.
We’re Women: We Always Handle It
I had recently read the book, ‘Feel the Fear, And Do It Anyway’, by Susan Jeffers. Somehow my mind opened up just a crack to remember the guidance. The root of all our fears is that we think whatever happens, we won’t be able to handle it. I coach women to realize they have been through a tremendous amount in their life up to this point. And they have handled every. single. thing. So when you’re wondering how to handle difficult situations…you can handle it too!
We can always reflect whether we could have handled something better, but in the end, we DID handle it.
That thought was just enough to get me off the ledge. I followed it by realizing I was sure I wasn’t the first person this happened to. They MUST have a protocol to deal with it. Plus, I was just a mom, at a small airport, wanting to make my return flight home. They could check me out and see I wasn’t a danger.
I approached the ticket counter, holding back tears. The agent greeted me. She was asking about my t-shirt logo. How could she be so casual, this was a total disaster! I told her I couldn’t find my driver’s license. I explained I was just visiting my daughter and needed that return flight to get home. She printed my baggage tag, took my bag and said I’d probably just get an extra level of screening. No biggie, she returned to chatting with the other agent.
You’re Not A Special Snowflake, But In A Good Way
What?! Her nonchalance comforted me. Ok, one barrier down, now on to security. I approached the TSA agent and explained my situation and what the airline agent had told me. Her stern look didn’t even make eye contact. Over the speaker she called a supervisor and asked me to step aside. The supervisor and another TSA agent directed me to a side table. I again, trying to breathe, explained. He asked for any other documents. I know you’re not supposed to carry your social security card with you, but I happened to have it. That got me passed the next hurdle. He explained they’d thoroughly search my bag and I’d get a pat down. Seriously, I didn’t care what it took. I’d just about strip naked if they’d agree to let me on the plane.
Relief came over me. I could see that I was now going to get on that plane and return home.
I was beside myself that I’d lost my driver’s license. One of my primary strengths is responsibility. So when I make a bonehead move, it REALLY upsets me. I’m pretty sure there’s some perfectionism thrown in the mix.
But in the end, knowing that I CAN handle it? Priceless.
To this day, my lost driver’s license has not been found.
Ever wonder how to handle difficult situations?
How do you deal with fear? Most often, it’s just a story in our head about possibilities. It’s not the reality. Just know the next time it comes up for you, that I realized – you can handle it. They must have a way to deal with this. I’m sure I’m not the first person this happened to.
How do you deal with fear?
‘Til next time,
xo Sue
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