Have you ever had one of those moments when your heart sinks?
You reach into your wallet expecting to find something… and it isn’t there.
Your mind immediately starts racing.
“Where did I have it last?”
“How am I going to fix this?”
“What happens next?”
That’s exactly what happened to me a few days ago.
I realized my driver’s license was gone.
My son and I were scheduled to fly from Dallas to Spokane, Washington, to visit my sister and her family. We were looking forward to spending time together and watching the 3-on-3 basketball tournament in downtown Spokane.
Driving home to get my passport wasn’t a realistic option.
For a few minutes, I thought about everything that could go wrong.
Then I reminded myself of something I’ve always believed:
Where there is a will, there is usually a way.
Instead of panicking, I focused on what I could control.
I reported my license as lost, ordered a replacement, and made one important decision.
I would arrive at the airport at least two hours early.
I knew I had TSA PreCheck and United’s Touchless Identity Verification, but I also knew there was a chance I would need additional screening.
I wanted margin.
Everything seemed to be going according to plan until I forgot one important detail.
My son is still a minor.
As we approached the TSA checkpoint, the officer asked him how old he was.
After he answered, the officer smiled, looked at me, and said,
“Dad, may I see your ID?”
There it was.
The moment I had been preparing for.
I explained what had happened.
TSA conducted additional screening, verified my identity, and eventually cleared us to fly.
It actually went much better than I expected.
Because I had planned ahead, we still made our flight with time to spare.
The return trip was much the same.
Again, I arrived early.
Again, I planned ahead.
Again, everything worked out.
As I write this, I’m sitting in the airport waiting for my delayed flight.
A few years ago, that delay probably would have frustrated me.
Today, I see it differently.
The extra time has allowed me to reflect, think ahead, and prepare for the week.
This experience reminded me of an old saying:
“Failure to plan is planning to fail.”
Preparation doesn’t mean everything will go according to plan.
I still lost my ID.
I still went through additional screening.
My flight was still delayed.
But because I planned ahead, none of those setbacks became a crisis.
The same principle applies far beyond the airport.
In business.
In leadership.
In parenting.
And in life.
We can’t predict every obstacle.
But we can prepare for many of them.
Looking back, losing my ID wasn’t the biggest lesson.
The biggest lesson was this:
Preparation doesn’t remove uncertainty. It gives you the confidence to face it.
So let me leave you with one question.
What in your life could benefit from a little more planning today before it becomes tomorrow’s emergency?
Dr. Anthony Ndungu, PhD. MBA, RN
Entrepreneur | Leader | Growth Advocate
CEO, http://www.kansashomehealth.com|www.medicashift.com|www.meadowlarkcarehomes.com
“We make lives better.”
