Puzzles to Solve

Two weeks ago, I was in the check out line at the grocery store. I had purchased a lot of food, so I went to the normal cashier instead of the self check out. The cashier finished, and I opened my wallet to an empty slot—my credit card was gone.

Uh-oh.

I quickly pulled out a different card and tried not to freak out. Where had I left that card?? At times, I had found my credit card in the pocket of my pants. Yes! That’s definitely what I had done. So when I got home, I started looking through all the pants and shorts I had worn that week. Nope. I looked through all my laundry, everywhere in my closet, and anywhere else I could think to look. My card was gone.

Starting to feel a bit desperate, I went through every pair of bottoms I own—anything with a pocket. Shorts, pants, slacks, jeans—my credit card was nowhere to be found.

I didn’t want to report a lost card! So I kept racking my brain, trying to solve this puzzle. I remembered the last places I had used the card, so I started calling the stores. One after another, the story remained the same. I’m sorry, your card isn’t here.

I was getting so annoyed.

But my mind wouldn’t quit. I kept thinking and thinking of new places to search, new stores to call, and finally a new strategy. I logged onto my card site and scrolled over the last things I had purchased. A new store that I had forgotten about popped up, so I made another phone call. No luck. I scrolled down to the next purchase.

It was a grocery store, but the charge was an even dollar amount. What on earth did I buy? I sat on the floor and tried to remember, even looking for the receipt—and suddenly I knew! I had been at the pharmacy. YES!! And the employee there had put my card in the bag…which I had thrown away.

UUUGGGHHHH.

We were leaving for a trip the next morning, and I needed that card! Thankfully, we had some rubber gloves. I put them on (along with my big girl pants😜), pulled the gooey trash bag out of the can, and started sorting through all of our trash. If you’ve never had the pleasure of doing this activity, feel lucky. I can only describe it as a consistent activation of your gag reflex.🤢🤢

After pulling out heaps of food scraps and other unsavory items, I finally saw the pharmacy bag! HALLELUJAH! I confidently opened the bag, and there, in all its glory, was my lost credit card.

It had taken almost a week, but I did it!

I was dedicated, focused, and unwavering. I looked everywhere I could think of, and when nothing turned up, I came up with more creative ways to “look.” I knew no one had stolen my card. I misplaced it somewhere, and I was going to find it. My determination was set. I wasn’t going to stop until I solved this puzzle.

I’m not always so determined.

There are many times where I don’t know how to do something, or feel like I don’t know enough, and so I quit.

I can’t.

It’s too hard.

I don’t know how.

I’m not sure what to do.

Does this sound familiar? I have so many puzzles left unsolved—many things I feel underqualified to do, too dumb to accomplish, or too inept to try. Maybe you have unsolved puzzles in your life, too?

I know it’s just a credit card, but the difference in my behavior is found (where else?) in my thoughts. I really believed I would find my card. I knew it. The only part I didn’t know was where it was, but I knew I could figure it out. And that belief kept me looking and thinking and looking some more.

Your thoughts truly matter.

How you think determines how you act, and eventually, who you become.

I, for one, want to be a puzzle solver. What about you?