The serendipity of life played out for me once again this week courtesy a lost item of baggage. After nearly 24 hours of travel having landed safely in Chicago O’Hare airport, we were really looking forward to grabbing our bags off the carousel and heading to the hotel. Two suitcases loaded on our trolley we kept looking for our big red “gift bag” but as the minutes went by that sinking feeling started to set in. I found a helper baggage handler and he confirmed what I feared, no more bags were coming and there was no sign of our red beauty.
My head went into Google maps mode, recalculating time to reach hotel and I told myself add at least an hour before a hot shower and some much-needed sleep could happen. We went in search of counter 2 which was just ahead and to our left. When we got there, we were told by another helpful person that the lady who staffs the counter has not come in today. Take the train to terminal 3 go down three levels and you will find another baggage claims centre.
“I’m sorry, your bag didn’t make it sir…” it got left behind at Heathrow. I could have given the lady a hug. That was the best news ever. Our gift bag had been located. It had been lost and found again. It was on a flight following us and would be delivered to our hotel. Secure in the knowledge that all was going to be well in my world again we went in search of the hotel shuttle. And just like the that a voice I had. It heard for many years called out “is that you Mr. Dey?” An ex-colleague from my first job and friend of many years found me at a bus station in Chicago because my bag had got lost. The number of things that needed to have happened to bring us together at exactly that moment were mind boggling. We spent a wonderful 45 minutes catching up on each other’s lives. Truly a lost and found moment.
A day later I woke up in the morning and realised that I had left my favourite travel shirt behind in the airport hotel. I called them to check if it had been located. They put me on hold for ages and then I got disconnected. When I called back there was good news again. My shirt had been located and was waiting for me in lost and found. I cannot wait to find out what surprise encounter awaits me when I wind my way back to windy city to reclaim my lost shirt.
A wonderful reminder, that in life every time I lose something it creates and opportunity for me to find something else. Sometimes I don’t see it immediately (like in the case of finding an old friend). Looking back on a moment of loss, with the benefit of hindsight, I am often able to connect the dots and see how a loss helped me find something.
Serendipity is life’s lost and found department. Be open to what life has to offer. As Forrest Gump so awesomely said “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get”. So go ahead and get lost.
The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.
A trusted coaching and communications professional, Nikhil Dey is a certified life and leadership coach (International Coach Federation - ICF). Nurturing talent and helping clients achieve their goals is what makes him happy. He loves learning from students of communication, teaching courses and guest lecturing at various educational institutions. When he is not working you will find him on the tennis court or out for long walks with his family and four legged friends.
Previously he has held senior leadership positions at Weber Shandwick and Genesis BCW.
He can be reached on twitter @deydreaming
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