Shinkyo bridge, Nikko (Canva)
A recent incident during my Japan trip revealed a lot about myself.
I was in Nikko at the world heritage temple site that was milling with people. In a nearby washroom, after washing my hands, I rummaged through my handbag and realised that my mobile was missing!
A sense of panic overtook me but my instinct was to calm down for clarity of mind to prevail.
Inadvertently in the back of my mind, a turbulent storm had brewed;
In the hands of a scammer, he or she could easily transfer my personal and company accounts out with my mobile phone. Putting a screen lock was no deterrent.
I had the worst thought of becoming in poverty and starting all over again.
My itinerary for the next few days would be compromised as my complete plan, addresses of hotels and train bookings were in the notes in the mobile. This would disrupt the trip and disappoint my friend.
To lose a personal gift or a wallet is painful enough but to lose a mobile phone especially in today’s world — that is like losing your identity, your secrets and your security. I felt so vulnerable.
What was I to do? My heart quickened, my mind raced and my stomach felt queasy.
I turned to the past reading of Stoic principles. I decided to meet my fate. It has happened. Stoics told me; Control what I can, let go the rest. What was within my control?
I thought;
1 . I still had my tablet in the hotel so I could assess the destinations ahead. All was not lost.
2 I accepted that money may be lost so the best I could do was to inform the banks asap to suspend my accounts.
3 Report the matter to the police later and let them document
4 Pray and trust that God will spare me this pain.
I kept my calm. My friend and I then retraced our steps to the food stall where we had bought red bean cakes.
The vendors said they were not aware of any mobile phone.
Then we walked back to the entrance to the shrine where I last took a photo to show my friend. It was still filled with people walking around and no phone was spotted.
I went up to the security and told him about my lost phone. He was busy announcing closing time, beckoning the tourists to exit, then he disappeared into the building.
I did not know if he had gone to check at any information counter about lost and found items or report for me or to get the rest of the tourists out due to closing time. There was no response from him.
After a suppressed agonising one hour wait, checking the grounds and scrutinizing others’ phones from a distance to see if they were holding my phone, I was somewhat dejected and solemn.
One more time, I approached another staff who said someone had lost a phone in the temple grounds and retrieved it. But to lose them outside… with people walking around, that was a difficult situation.
This was what it felt like to be helpless. I decided to go back to the washroom one more time where I had discovered my phone was lost.
At the public toilet, there were ladies still streaming in and out amidst a long queue.
In my heart, I begged Providence for one more chance to correct my weakness— I swore to more alert and organized.
I went into the washroom and Lo and behold! I saw my mobile with its black case and its black rope strap, faced down, lying next to the wash basin on the black stone top. It had been camouflaged.
Apparently, after washing my hands, I had rummaged through my bag for my mobile and concluded immediately that it was lost without looking around to see if it was near me and rushed out to tell my friend .
A wave of relief swept over me and I was eternally grateful for the lesson this drama had taught me— that is, to slow down my pace.
I was glad that I did not flail and threw my arms up in despair nor broke down in tears.
I was glad that I had been largely calm and collected.
I was glad to apply Stoic philosophy successfully.
I noticed a great improvement in my walking during the search for my phone despite an injured knee. That told me not to focus on my knee anymore.
I had been clear in my management of this episode should the worst happened.
I felt elated and enlightened. The sky brightened, the world seemed positive again and Joy was in the air.
It could be just some ancient Stoic quotes that I had picked up from reading but they are applicable always. And I am grateful.
From the ancient philosophers, they tell me;
“Control what you can and let go the rest.”
“We suffer more in imagination than in reality.”
“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength”
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